Henry James Byron's quote "Life's too brief for chess" is a suggestion to live life to the fullest and not lose time on unimportant matters. It recommends that life is too valuable and fleeting to invest it on activities that don't bring delight or satisfaction. Chess is a video game of technique and skill, but it can likewise be a time-consuming activity that can take away from other more meaningful pursuits. By suggesting that life is too short for chess, Byron is encouraging us to focus on the important things that bring us pleasure and satisfaction, and to make the most of our time on this earth. He is reminding us to prioritize our energy and time on the important things that matter most, and to not get bogged down in activities that do not bring us happiness. Life is too brief to lose on minor matters, so maximize it and focus on the things that bring you happiness.
"Seem to be telling this, but really telling that. Three-dimensional writing, like three-dimensional chess. Nabokov was the other master of that. You could learn something from Nabokov on every page he ever wrote"