I spend hours playing chess because I find it so much fun. The day it stops being fun is the day I give up.
Magnus CarlsenRead
Without the element of enjoyment, it is not worth trying to excel at anything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Enjoyment is essential for achieving excellence in any endeavor.
This quote emphasizes the importance of enjoyment in the pursuit of excellence. Magnus Carlsen suggests that if you are not finding joy in what you are doing, striving to excel may not be fulfilling or worthwhile, indicating that passion and enjoyment can fuel motivation and success.
Themes
EnjoymentExcellencePassionSuccessMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech focusing on career choices.
More from Magnus Carlsen
All quotes βThere wasn't any particular player I modeled my game after. I tried to learn from everyone and create my own style. I studied past players... Truth be told I never had a favorite player. It's just not my nature to go around idolizing people. I just go try to learn.
Magnus CarlsenRead
Maybe if I didn't have the talent in chess I'd find the talent in something else. The only thing I know is that I have talent in chess, and I'm satisfied with that.
Magnus CarlsenRead
Self-confidence is very important. If you don't think you can win, you will take cowardly decisions in the crucial moments, out of sheer respect for your opponent. You see the opportunity but also greater limitations than you should. I have always believed in what I do on the chessboard, even when I had no objective reason to. It is better to overestimate your prospects than underestimate them.
Magnus CarlsenRead
Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it's okay to lose. I don't. You have to be merciless.
Magnus CarlsenRead
For me right now I think being the world number one is a bigger deal than being the world champion because I think it shows better who plays the best chess. That sounds self-serving but I think it's also right.
Magnus CarlsenRead
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