Mr. Fischer talked reasonable. This doesn't mean he is right or wrong. The "truth" is something humans cannot judge really. They have to make to many assumtions. So imo the best would be to talk about what he said and not about his person.
This is what says St Francis of Sales in "Introduction to a devout life" about recreations. It includes chess.
"Of Amusements and Recreations: what are allowable.
We must needs occasionally relax the mind, and the body requires some recreation also. Cassian relates how S. John the Evangelist was found by a certain hunter amusing himself by caressing a partridge, which sat upon his wrist. The hunter asked how a man of his mental powers could find time for so trifling an occupation. In reply, S. John asked why he did not always carry his bow strung? The man answered, Because, if always bent, the bow would lose its spring when really wanted. "Do not marvel then," the Apostle replied, "if I slacken my mental efforts from time to time, and recreate myself, in order to return more vigorously to contemplation." It is a great mistake to be so strict as to grudge any recreation either to others or one's self.
Walking, harmless games, music, instrumental or vocal, field sports, etc., are such entirely lawful recreations that they need no rules beyond those of ordinary discretion, which keep every thing within due limits of time, place, and degree. So again games of skill, which exercise and strengthen body or mind, such as tennis, rackets, running at the ring, chess, and the like, are in themselves both lawful and good.
Only one must avoid excess, either in the time given to them, or the amount of interest they absorb; for if too much time be given up to such things, they cease to be a recreation and become an occupation; and so far from resting and restoring mind or body, they have precisely the contrary effect. After five or six hours spent over chess, one's mind is spent and weary, and too long a time given to tennis results in physical exhaustion; or if people play for a high stake, they get anxious and discomposed, and such unimportant objects are unworthy of so much care and thought.
But, above all, beware of setting your heart upon any of these things, for however lawful an amusement may be, it is wrong to give one's heart up to it. Not that I would not have you take pleasure in what you are doing,--it were no recreation else,--but I would not have you engrossed by it, or become eager or over fond of any of these things."
I suggest you read the manifesto from Unabomber and the part about "surrogate activities" and "process power", its really interesting.
"Chess is much purer than art in its social position. " - Marcel Duchamp
A life devoted to chess is no more wasted than a life devouted to painting.
A life devoted to chess in no more wasted than a life devoted to the study of some insect.
A life devoted to chess is no more wasted than a life devoted to soccer or athletics.
@emy-888 Beautiful!
@tpr Simple, but also beautiful.
There are people with wonderful talents, beautiful children, and somehow they can never be part of the moment and enjoy the ride a little more. They are sort of wasting their lifes away.
There are people with no real talents or lucky circumstances that are still able to be part of this moment, right now,
For anyone interested in this I suggest taking a look into the "Four Noble Truths" of Buddhism.
I don't know how Bobby Fischer thought about this. He didn't seem to be at peace with his family despite having a mother that did everything to easy his journey, at least professionally. He had his troubles and made it hard for himself, sometimes for everyone, but he also had wonderful talents. Even if it was out of self interest, he went out there and shared his gift with the world.
Maybe by accident he joined one of the world's largest families and when he had to go, his new family was better off than when he joined them. Funnily enough, he became like a father figure. Because he devoted his life to this his contributions are many and varied and like with many great men, some of it is hidden under the surface. He's easy to criticize but all of us are influenced by his work, if we like it our not, and no one can take away from the effort he took. We even got a bigger family table because of him :)
Who knows if he would have found something different to console him if chess wasn't there for him. But I'm shure he was at peace wasting his life away, doing the one thing that he probably loved most.
Gens una sumus my friends, Rawky