Quotation Time: Identify and Discuss
Here's an initial offering in what might develop into a regular theme on this blog: I'll present a quotation without attribution, and you're invited/challenged to identify its source. (Thoughtful) Comments on the quotation are welcome as well.
I always want to be first. If I were not a chess player, I would want to be first in whatever I was doing. And even more in chess - otherwise it would be silly to play seriously. If you are not first, it means you have been defeated. And who wants to be a loser?
Related Posts (on one page):
- Quotation Time #2
- The Karpov Quote: A Follow-up
- Quotation Time: Identify and Discuss
Posted by Dennis Monokroussos on
Monday March 3, 2008 at 9:45am
P.S. By "thoughtful" I'm trying to avoid remarks like "what a jerk" or "he's the loser" or (from the other side) "duh". Careful philosophical prose is not necessary (though it would be welcomed).
I've read the book Karpov on Karpov Memoires of a World Champion and it had quite the ring of Karpov. A good read for those of us who want to become world champion!
This is a fun idea. It's interesting to know what some of the great (or not so great) chess players are thinking. But, you should wait at least 24 hours - you might have had 10 or 12 guesses of Karpov if people knew that you were waiting a day to give the answer. Or you might have had some other answers and discussion of the quote itself. Now that I know who said it, I have little incentive to discuss it. I can just read his book if I want to know Karpov's reasoning behind what he said.
But, your analysis on Playchess and on your blog (which has also been quoted by chessbase.com) has been terrific. Thanks for that.
After reading it was Karpov I'm thinking: sure, easy to say _after_ you reached the top.
Nothing wrong with ambition, but grow old enough and you realize you just can't be first in everyting (or else you are deluding yourself) and that there's more to life than "being first".
Do your best and let the chips fall where they may, obsessing about "being first" is a bit immature imo.
As mentioned above, anybody who engages in a competitive sport/game wants to be first, doh indeed. Very often the one who is able to sacrifice the most for his game wins. Very often, not always. And don't forget that without the _god given_ talent to begin with: forget about it.
I play chess and I hate to lose, but in the grand scheme of things, your life and how you lead it, "being first" means nothing. Is Karpov a better (happier, more fulfilled, whatever) person because he (arguably) used to be the best at some game? It just means one thing and one thing only: he (arguably) used to be the best at some game. If being first at some game is the only thing that could make you happy or your life worthwhile, so be it, your choice, but it would be a poor life imo. Each to his own though. ;)
It's also asking for trouble as a mantra to lead one's life: by definition only one person can be the best at something, what if you are part of "the rest"?
All this to me is just an open door, common sense, am I weird thinking this?
Later, I thought it over and remembered some things I hadn't been able to complete, some plans that didn't go through, some ideas that died early, but I had never considered them failures simply because I'd learned so much from even attempting them. I certainly didn't berate myself and call myself a failure, nor do I feel like a failure or loser in any sense, not even when I lose several games of chess.
If being first in something is equated to being a winner in your mind, what happens to you when you're no longer first? Does Karpov now view himself as a loser? After all, his identify as a winner was based on his chess prowess, and he's not that good (comparatively speaking to what he once was) anymore. I suspect if you ask Karpov, "are you a loser?", he will answer "nyet", which would pretty much contradict (invalidate?) his original quote posed above.
To Guest: No, I don't think you're weird...it seems like common sense to me too.
On the other hand, I'm also reminded a bit of the old joke, "I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous". In other words, giving it your all is not always the wisest choice when you want to become the best at something.