Quiet moves often make a stronger impression than a wild combination with heavy sacrifices. - Mikhail Tal
Combinations with a queen sacrifice are among the most striking and memorable ... - Anatoly Karpov
As a rule, so-called "positional" sacrifices are considered more difficult, and therefore more praise-worthy, than those which are based exclusively on an exact calculation of tactical possibilities. - Alexander Alekhine
It is unjust, and sometimes very untrue, though it is a common theory, to hold that it is sacrifices which make the beauty of a combination, and that the combination is prettier by the magnitude of the sacrifices. - Eugene Znosko-Borowski
No price is too great for the scalp of the enemy King. - Koblentz
A real sacrifice involves a radical change in the character of a game which cannot be effected without foresight, fantasy, and the willingness to risk. - Leonid Shamkovich
Objectivity and presence of mind are essential in such positions where sacrificial temptations are not always resistable. - Leonid Shamkovich
There are two types of sacrifices: correct ones, and mine. - Mikhail Tal
I will not hide the fact that I love to hear the spectators react after a sacrifice of a piece or pawn. I don't think that there is anything bad in such a feeling; no artist or musician is indifferent to the reactions of the public. - Mikhail Tal
If your opponent has an exposed king it is frequently worth sacrificing a pawn to be able to bring your rooks into the game, especially if your opponent's rooks are languishing in the corner. Kasparov has made a career out of such sacrifices. - Neil McDonald
We cannot resist the fascination of sacrifice, since a passion for sacrifices is part of a chessplayer's nature. - Rudolf Spielmann
A good sacrifice is one that is not necessarily sound but leaves your opponent dazed and confused. - Rudolph Spielmann
It is always better to sacrifice your opponents' men. - Savielly Tartakower
To avoid losing a piece, many a person has lost the game. - Savielly Tartakower
A thorough understanding of the typical mating continuations makes the most complicated sacrificial combinations leading up to them not only difficult, but almost a matter of course. - Savielly Tartakower
A Queen's sacrifice, even when fairly obvious, always rejoices the heart of the chess-lover. - Savielly Tartakower
Whoever has known bumper to bumper traffic snarls of a Sunday afternoon on the way home to the big city (and who has not?) would gladly give up a Rook for the open road. - commenting on Spielmann-Eljaschoff, Munich 1903 - Tony Santasiere
Voltaire said once that he was ruined twice, once when he lost a lawsuit, and once when he won one. In the same way, a beginner at chess must get somewhat discouraged, for he loses if he accepts a sacrificed piece, but he also loses if he declines it. - Tony Santasiere
A sacrifice is best refuted by accepting it. - Wilhelm Steinitz
It so often happens that, after sacrificing a pawn, a player aims not to obtain the initiative for it, but to regain sacrificed material. - Yefim Geller