Can anyone explain to me what this quote means?

Question

"The whole world is in chess. Any move can be the death of you. Do anything except remain where you started and you can't be sure of your end.... None of us know our end really, or what hand will guide us there. A king may move a man, a father may claim a son. That man can also move himself. And only then does that man truly begin his own game. Remember that howsoever you are played, or by whom, your soul is in your keeping alone. Even though those who presumed pray you kings or men of power, When you stand before God you cannot say 'but I was told by others to do thus' or that 'virtue was not convenient at the time.' This will not suffice."

Answer 1

No matter how much choice or how little choice you have, you still make your own choices.  You are responsible to some extent for what happens in your own life.  You cannot claim that everything, good or bad, happens to you because of fate.

Answer 2

I think it mean every man creates his own destiny with every choice they make. Certain choices may be made based on where you are born or how you are raised but in the end; when all is said and done everyone is responsible for their own actions and cant blame someone else for their shortcomings or misfortunes.

Answer 3

It means to live your life. Just like in chess, you make decisions everyday. The wise choices make for the best, the unwise for worse. You have made this decision; no matter what anyone else has says it all comes down to you.