He gets away not because he's smart, but just by dumb luck. And the book makes it clear that it's just dumb luck that has saved him from being eaten. But your mother is still there to forgive you. Chess teaches you to control the initial excitement you feel when you see something that looks good and it trains you to think objectively when you're in trouble.
Failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.
I spend most of my time trying to be this exceptional person that'll fulfill every person's wants. In my friendships, in my relationships, too. You can't please everybody. It's really important to keep things simple and small and real. If you don't want to do something, one excuse is as good as another.