Life does resemble a huge game, and all the things we have, know, and do are like so many pawns which we manipulate in an effort to win. There are never enough pawns. Each individual chooses his pawns, or rather uses those he has available - his body or his mind, his health or sickness, his family, titles, reputation, wealth. In this way the ego is enlarged to include all its pawns in order to increase its chances.

It is not enough, of course, to have pawns. One must also know how to use them. And the more one has, the more difficult this is - and the more ignominious it would be to fail with so many pieces to play with! So it is that many people deny their talents, both to escape the responsibility that goes with them, and to insure against possible failure. The reason why so many people take pleasure in thinking and talking about their past misfortunes and the injustices they have suffered is partly to excuse themselves for not winning at every move as they would have liked, to make it clear that they have been laboring under a handicap. At times this attitude can verge on hypochondria.