Think = Chess

A metaphor.

If there are 9,183,421,888 ways to play the first nine moves,
9,417,681 the first six, 72,078 the first four, 5,362 the first three,
and 20 to play the first, are early moves more important than later?

Life is a kind of chess in which we have often points to gain,

competitors or adversaries to contend with,

and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events…

By playing at chess…we may learn foresight, circumspection and caution.

Benjamin Franklin

The more captured opposing pieces the less risk, and vice versa.


Does the player who doesn’t make the last mistake usually win?

After the game, the king and pawn go into the same box.

Italian proverb

Is chess non-violent war?

Do some football running backs fake left and go right
to intentionally mislead the defense
into committing energy and mass in the wrong direction?

All warfare is based on deception.

…when able to attack we must seem unable,

when using our forces we must seem inactive,

when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far…,

when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Sun Tzu

If nothing doesn’t change, you can’t start over.


If an opponent’s position can be used against them
and the pinnacle of vulnerability is the moment of assault,
should attack commence from defended positions?

If your attack is going too well, you have walked into an ambush.

Infantry Journal

If life is a room of open doors leading to other open doors,
do what you and/or others do or don’t determine what doors stay open,
or lock you in or out?

There may be less risk and greater return
in learning from other people’s experience before having to learn from your own.

Whoever has his foe at his mercy and does not kill him is his own enemy.

Shaikh Sa’di Shirazi

What do you do in a battle in which you die if you don’t fight or lose?


Are chances better
for players who more accurately calculate probabilities the farthest into the future?

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

Napoleon Bonaparte

If every move is followed by a counter move,
and every cause, action or winner has an effect, reaction or loser,
can one bad move erase a hundred good, and one good one win?


If the worst player’s identity is unknown,
could it be you?

People do not like to think.

If one thinks, one must reach conclusions.

Conclusions are not always pleasant.

Helen Keller

Should strategy be merciless
if a pawn can become a queen, weakness can become and overcome strength,
and defense is offense?

What do you do with your bayonet
after you and your opponent shoot the last bullets and miss at 3 yards?

Rejoice not at your enemy's fall, but don't pick him up either.

Yiddish proverb

Should you do to others what you would want them to do to you,
unless you need not to?


If it can be good to find what not to think, unless you’re wrong,
and an offensive move doesn’t look advantageous,
should defenses be reinforced instead?

My opinions will never change, no matter what the facts are.

Steven Colbert

Does increasing risk when odds are good
lower subsequent risk?


Most of the time, is thinking you’re better than you are
better than thinking you’re worse?

Who is the rich person?

The one who is happy with what he has.

Jewish proverb