--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human affairs are like a chess game. Only…" description: "\"Human affairs are like a chess game. Only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players.\" — Zicheng Hong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/zicheng-hong-7031_affair_human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only_182497.jpg" --- # Human affairs are like a chess game. Only those who do not… ![“Human affairs are like a chess game. Only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players.” quote by Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/zicheng-hong-7031_affair_human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only_182497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/zicheng-hong-7031_affair_human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only_182497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/zicheng-hong-7031_affair_human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only_182497.jpg) > “Human affairs are like a chess game. Only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players.” [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating life as a serious game undermines enjoyment; seriousness can be a sign of inexperience. **In simple terms:** Not taking life seriously can be a sign of inexperience. Key Takeaway Balance seriousness with playfulness. Themes life games seriousness Mood thoughtful lighthearted Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - learning new skills - creative hobbies - social events Key Concepts strategy humor growth Questions to Reflect On - When have you taken a situation too seriously? - How can you inject play into routine? A Different Perspective Over‑seriousness can hinder deep engagement and joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Chess game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Human affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-affairs/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [Human affairs are like a chess-game: only those who do not take it seriously can be called good players. Life is like an earthen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/human-affairs-are-like-a-chess-game-only-those-who-do-not-take-it-2/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Making a movie is like a chess game. It's about constantly changing patterns, adapting to new things. 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You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wladimir-klitschko/earlier-in-my-career-i-never-thought-of-boxing-as-a-chess-game-but-i/) [Wladimir Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wladimir-klitschko/) > [I am very lucky in my team. They sit opposite me, and I get to see them every day sitting there staring at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/i-am-very-lucky-in-my-team-they-sit-opposite-me-and-i-get-to-see-them/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) > [A 10,000m race is like a chess game and you are watching, wondering what's going on and what's going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jackson/a-10-000m-race-is-like-a-chess-game-and-you-are-watching-wondering/) [Colin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jackson/) > [Here in Italy, football is more like a chess game. You have to think about every move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-evra/here-in-italy-football-is-more-like-a-chess-game-you-have-to-think/) [Patrice Evra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-evra/) > [“It might have begun a bit like a chess game, but it had taken on its own momentum, and owned both of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-anne-long/it-might-have-begun-a-bit-like-a-chess-game-but-it-had-taken-on-its/) [Julie Anne Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-anne-long/) > [If you never give up and you strive hard and focus on every move like a chess game, you will make it. I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coy-bowles/if-you-never-give-up-and-you-strive-hard-and-focus-on-every-move-like/) [Coy Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coy-bowles/) > [Life is like a chess game one wrong move could cost you the game. Think before you make any moves so you will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dl-watson/life-is-like-a-chess-game-one-wrong-move-could-cost-you-the-game/) DL WATSON > [Affairs, ... , like everything else, ask too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/affairs-like-everything-else-ask-too-much/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“Affairs are like a seventh day. They are a break from all duties and obligations and responsibilities. I'm not saying this is right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-plump/affairs-are-like-a-seventh-day-they-are-a-break-from-all-duties-and/) [Wendy Plump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-plump/) > [The thing to remember about love affairs," says Simone, "is that they are all like having raccoons in your chimney." ... We have raccoons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/the-thing-to-remember-about-love-affairs-says-simone-is-that-they-are/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [All opening moves were the same, like in chess. You don't have to come up with anything new, there's no point, because you're both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-giordano/all-opening-moves-were-the-same-like-in-chess-you-don-t-have-to-come/) [Paolo Giordano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-giordano/) ## More by Zicheng Hong > [In the mind engaged in struggling with hardship, one always finds something delightful. The sorrow of disappointment arises in the complacency of satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-the-mind-engaged-in-struggling-with-hardship-one-always-finds/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [People are considered pure of heart when they do not approach power and pomp; but those who can be near without being affected are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/people-are-considered-pure-of-heart-when-they-do-not-approach-power/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Blessings often give rise to injury, so be careful when things are going your way. Success may be achieved after failure, so don't just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/blessings-often-give-rise-to-injury-so-be-careful-when-things-are/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Public behavior is nurtured in private; earthshaking measures come form careful steps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/public-behavior-is-nurtured-in-private-earthshaking-measures-come/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Even if you do no work that is particularly lofty or far-reaching, if you can shed mundane feelings, that is a great achievement. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/even-if-you-do-no-work-that-is-particularly-lofty-or-far-reaching-if/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [When one is not slipshod in small matters, not hypocritical in secret, and not reckless in disappointment, only then is one a true hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/when-one-is-not-slipshod-in-small-matters-not-hypocritical-in-secret/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [If those who give are conscious of their own generosity and those who receive feel indebted, they are no longer family but rather strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/if-those-who-give-are-conscious-of-their-own-generosity-and-those-who/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [In whatever you do, if you leave a sense of incompleteness, then Creation cannot resent you, ghosts and spirits cannot harm you. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-whatever-you-do-if-you-leave-a-sense-of-incompleteness-then/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [The road of truth is broad; set the mind on it, and you feel expansive openness and broad clarity. The road of human desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/the-road-of-truth-is-broad-set-the-mind-on-it-and-you-feel-expansive/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [When you are constantly hearing offensive words and always have some irritating matter in mind, only then do you have a whetstone for character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/when-you-are-constantly-hearing-offensive-words-and-always-have-some/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Do not think about whatever service you may have done for others; think about what you may have done to offend them. Don't forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/do-not-think-about-whatever-service-you-may-have-done-for-others/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Those who trust others will find that not everyone is necessarily sincere, but they will be sincere themselves. Those who suspect others will find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/those-who-trust-others-will-find-that-not-everyone-is-necessarily/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [When water isn't rippled, it is naturally still. When a mirror isn't clouded, it is clear of itself. So the mind is not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/when-water-isn-t-rippled-it-is-naturally-still-when-a-mirror-isn-t/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [You should be forgiving when others make mistakes, but not when the mistakes are in you. You should be patient under duress yourself, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/you-should-be-forgiving-when-others-make-mistakes-but-not-when-the/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [The sickness of indulging desires can be treated, but the sickness of clinging to abstract principles is hard to treat. Obstacles presented by events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/the-sickness-of-indulging-desires-can-be-treated-but-the-sickness-of/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) [Explore all 95 Zicheng Hong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [I wonder if it's possible to have a love affair that lasts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-wonder-if-it-s-possible-to-have-a-love-affair-that-lasts-forever/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [For a young man to start his career with a love affair with an older woman was quite de rigueur ... Of course, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/for-a-young-man-to-start-his-career-with-a-love-affair-with-an-older/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [As long as the state permits itself to interfere in the affairs of literature, literature has the right to interfere with the affairs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/as-long-as-the-state-permits-itself-to-interfere-in-the-affairs-of/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [Love is mainly an affair of short spasms. If these spasms disappoint us, love dies. It is very seldom that it weathers the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/love-is-mainly-an-affair-of-short-spasms-if-these-spasms-disappoint/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/my-hope-does-not-rest-in-the-affairs-of-this-world-it-rests-in-christ/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." 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