"The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life"

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:33 am

The following quotation is cited in Nick Barnett's Weekend Argus column, in reviewing the ChessPit podcast:

The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman. The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life.

As you see it's attributed to Morphy

but I can't immediately locate its origin. Does such a source exist?

Matt Mackenzie · Post by **Matt Mackenzie** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 1:10 pm

The counter was apparently provided by Hans Ree - "chess is beautiful enough to waste your life for".

MJMcCready · Post by **MJMcCready** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 5:55 pm

It's only an assumption but it seems beneath Morphy to say such a thing. I don't recall anyone ever saying he was as daft as a brush before. It's as bad as someone saying to show no ability to play chess is to show a waste of life. The only thing such statements achieve are enquiries into the name of the mental home you've just been let out of.

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 6:13 pm

What a very silly thing to say.

Matt Mackenzie · Post by **Matt Mackenzie** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 6:16 pm

Though it seems generally agreed that Morphy came to resent being a "mere" chess player.

His failure to succeed at law probably did a lot to explain his problems in later life.

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 6:29 pm

Still, do we have any kind of source for his alleged observation?

IM Jack Rudd · Post by **IM Jack Rudd** » Fri Jul 24, 2020 7:11 pm

I suspect it may be another Burke.

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"The ability to play chess well is the sign of a wasted life"

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