Josh Waitzkin Quotes

#1. I was unhindered by internal conflict - a state of being that I have come to see as fundamental to the learning process.

Josh Waitzkin

#2. In chess you might find a good move. Then you might find a better move. But take your time. Find the best move.

Josh Waitzkin

#3. Everyone at a high level has a huge amount of chess understanding, and much of what separates the great from the very good is deep presence, relaxation of the conscious mind, which allows the unconscious to flow unhindered.

Josh Waitzkin

#4. But as with all skills, the most sophisticated techniques tend to have their foundation in the simplest of principles. As

Josh Waitzkin

#5. Each loss was a lesson, each win a thrill. Every day pieces of the puzzle fell together. Whenever

Josh Waitzkin

#6. Of course there were plateaus, periods when my results leveled off while I internalized the information necessary for my next growth spurt, but I didn't mind.

Josh Waitzkin

#7. The learning principle is to plunge into the detailed mystery of the micro in order to understand what makes the macro tick. Our obstacle is that we live in an attention-deficit culture.

Josh Waitzkin

#8. When uncomfortable, my instinct is not to avoid the discomfort but to become at peace with it.

Josh Waitzkin

#9. The human mind defines things in relation to one another - without light the notion of darkness would be unintelligible

Josh Waitzkin

#10. Growth comes at the point of resistance. We learn by pushing ourselves and finding what really lies at the outer reaches of our abilities.

Josh Waitzkin

#11. In my experience, successful people shoot for the stars, put their hearts on the line in every battle, and ultimately discover that the lessons learned from the pursuit of excellence mean much more than the immediate trophies and glory.

Josh Waitzkin

#12. One idea I taught was the importance of regaining presence and clarity of mind after making a serious error.

Josh Waitzkin

#13. One of the most critical strengths of a superior competitor in any discipline - whether we are speaking about sports, business negotiations, or even presidential debates - is the ability to dictate the tone of the battle.

Josh Waitzkin

#14. In the end, mastery involves discovering the most resonant information and integrating it so deeply and fully it disappears and allows us to fly free.

Josh Waitzkin

#15. A key component of high-level learning is cultivating a resilient awareness that is the older, conscious embodiment of a child's playful obliviousness.

Josh Waitzkin

#16. He landed on cheap shot, but I knocked him out of the tournament.

Josh Waitzkin

#17. To walk a thorny road, we may cover its every inch with leather or we can make sandals. Anger.

Josh Waitzkin

#18. The key to pursuing excellence is to embrace an organic, long-term learning process, and not to live in a shell of static, safe mediocrity. Usually, growth comes at the expense of previous comfort or safety.

Josh Waitzkin