Psychology Quotes - Page 18

• Thus ordered thinking arises out of the ordered course of nature in which man finds himself, and this thinking is from the beginning nothing more than the subjective reproduction of the regularity according to the law of natural phenomena. On the other hand, this reproduction is only possible by means of the will that controls the concatenation of ideas.

  Wilhelm Wundt

  Mean, Men, Thinking

  Wilhelm Max Wundt (1912). “An Introduction to Psychology”

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• To regard such a positive mental science [psychology] as rising above the sphere of history, and establishing the permanent and unchanging laws of human nature, is therefore possible only to a person who mistakes the transient conditions of a certain historical age for the permanent conditions of human life.

  Robin G. Collingwood

  Mistake, Law, Historical

  5 Copy quote

• We know, from ordinary life, that we are not able to direct our attention perfectly steadily and uniformly to one and the same object... At times the attention turns towards the object most intensely, and at times the energy flags.

  Wilhelm Wundt

  Energy, Ordinary, Attention

  Wilhelm Wundt, (2013). “An Introduction to Psychology”, p.24, Read Books Ltd

  12 Copy quote

  Show source

• What is true [in psychology] is alas not new, the new not true.

  Hermann Ebbinghaus

  Alas

  Uber die Hartmannsche Philosophie des Unbewussten (1873)

  5 Copy quote

  Show source

• If I don't know I don't know, I think I know. If I don't know I know I know, I think I don't know.

  R. D. Laing

  Thinking, Knows, Ifs

  4 Copy quote

• The aim was simple: to deprive Karpov of his favourite occupation - standing at the board, staring straight at his opponent. While I was wearing these glasses, all he could admire was his own reflection.

  Viktor Korchnoi

  Reflection, Simple, Glasses

  18 Copy quote

• ... Tal accepted absolutely all the world champion's conditions with a smile, taking away a very important psychological trump card from him - the harsh, prickly relations with his opponent that were characteristic of all Botvinnik's matches.

  Gennadi Sosonko

  Champion, Important, Cards

  4 Copy quote

• The psychological effects of having to hold a prospectless position for what might seem an infinite amount of time does nothing to aid the defender's concentration.

  Michael Stean

  Learning, Doe, Might

  Michael Stean (2013). “Simple Chess: New Algebraic Edition”, p.55, Courier Corporation

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• Sometimes I even say that I have surpassed Lasker in using psychology. How? Well, sometimes I use psychology with a portion of risk. That is something else, something that Lasker wouldn't allow.

  Viktor Korchnoi

  Risk, Use, Sometimes

  18 Copy quote

• How vain are our fears! I thought to myself. Sometimes we fear that which our opponent (or fate) had never even considered! After this, then, is it any longer worthwhile to rack one's brain to find new ghosts to fear? No, indeed: All hail optimism! - upon playing Hermanis Mattison after he overlooked an unusual knight manouevre.

  Aron Nimzowitsch

  Fate, Knights, Optimism

  28 Copy quote

• For my victory over Capablanca I am indebted primarily to my superiority in the field of psychology. Capablanca played, relying almost exclusively on his rich intuitive talent. But for the chess struggle nowadays one needs a subtle knowledge of human nature, an understanding of the opponent's psychology.

  Alexander Alekhine

  Struggle, Understanding, Victory

  52 Copy quote

• One of the objectives of opening play is to try to surprise your opponent.

  Edmar Mednis

  Play, Trying, Opponents

  7 Copy quote

• Few things are as psychologically brutal as chess.

  Garry Kasparov

  Chess, Brutal

  Garry Kasparov (2010). “How Life Imitates Chess: Making the Right Moves, from the Board to the Boardroom”, p.81, Bloomsbury Publishing USA

  4 Copy quote

  Show source

• Most strong players are completely self-centered.... They are blind to how other people feel or else simply don't care.

  Joel Lautier

  Strong, Player, Self

  5 Copy quote

• As a chess player one has to be able to control one's feelings, one has to be as cold as a machine.

  Levon Aronian

  Player, Feelings, Machines

  "Aronian: 'I have a lot of blood in my brain'". Interview with Christian Schwager and Markus Lotter, November 20, 2008.

  20 Copy quote

  Show source

• It is very important to learn to weigh up objectively (or assess intuitively) the totality of the competitive and psychological factors.

  Mark Dvoretsky

  Important, Psychological, Totality

  Mark Dvoretsky (1991). “Secrets of Chess Training”, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

  8 Copy quote

  Show source

• Emotional instability can be one of the factors giving rise to a failure by chess players in important duels. Under the influence of surging emotions (and not necessarily negative ones) we sometimes lose concentration and stop objectively evaluating the events that are taking place on the board.

  Mark Dvoretsky

  Player, Emotional, Giving

  6 Copy quote

• Naturally, the psychological susceptibility of a match participant is significantly higher than a participant in a tournament, since each game substantially changes the over-all position.

  Mikhail Tal

  Games, Psychological, Higher

  15 Copy quote

• Sometimes players need to gain time on the clock by repeating the position, but most often its purpose is to wear down the opponent psychologically.

  Pal Benko

  Player, Needs, Purpose

  7 Copy quote

• There is nothing wrong with trying to exploit the natural human tendency to become impatient when forced to play a boring position.

  Pal Benko

  Play, Trying, Boring

  8 Copy quote

• Psychologically, the choice of an appropriate opening is of the utmost importance for a player's success in a tournament.

  Savielly Tartakower

  Player, Choices, Importance

  8 Copy quote

• It is important that you don't let your opponent impose his style of play on you. A part of that begins mentally. At the chessboard if you start blinking every time he challenges you then in a certain sense you are withdrawing. That is very important to avoid.

  Viswanathan Anand

  Play, Challenges, Style

  "Devil's Advocate: Viswanathan Anand on mind games". Interview with Karan Thapar, en.chessbase.com. May 13, 2008.

  28 Copy quote

  Show source

• Psychology plays a big part but I always say psychology will only be a differentiator when the players are of equal technical strength.

  Viswanathan Anand

  Player, Bigs, Equal

  "Devil's Advocate: Viswanathan Anand on mind games". Interview with Karan Thapar, en.chessbase.com. May 13, 2008.

  7 Copy quote

  Show source

• Part of my preparation for the World Champion match against Kasparov was to be ready for his off-board tactics. I did not to react to them at all. Once you start thinking about these things during the game, even analysing them, you're caught.

  Vladimir Kramnik

  Thinking, Games, Champion

  4 Copy quote

• How come the little things bother you when you are in a bad position? They don't bother you in good positions.

  Yasser Seirawan

  Littles, Little Things, Bother

  10 Copy quote