[matheusmoreira]

> The ability to play chess is the sign of a gentleman.

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

[alex1138]

- Paul Morphy, lawyer (I think). One of... well. Greatest of all time discussions are hard (times evolve) but he murdered his competition relative to his time

[IAmGraydon]

Morphy was certainly a freak of nature, sort of like Elizabeth in Queen's Gambit. Sadly, he lost his mind and died in his 40s.

[gwern]

(The quote is apocryphal and long after, so I'm pretty sure it's bunk.)