--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What did Ian Fleming say? Once is…" description: "\"“What did Ian Fleming say? Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action. And I don’t believe in waiting for even that much e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/barry-eisler-1009_past-time_what-did-ian-fleming-say-once-is-happens_1761764.png" --- # What did Ian Fleming say? Once is happenstance, twice is… ![“What did Ian Fleming say? Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action. And I don’t believe in waiting for even that much evidence. It was past time to act.” quote by Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/barry-eisler-1009_past-time_what-did-ian-fleming-say-once-is-happens_1761764.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/barry-eisler-1009_past-time_what-did-ian-fleming-say-once-is-happens_1761764.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/barry-eisler-1009_past-time_what-did-ian-fleming-say-once-is-happens_1761764.png) > ““What did Ian Fleming say? Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action. And I don’t believe in waiting for even that much evidence. It was past time to act.”” [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote stresses that repeated coincidences signal deliberate opposition, urging proactive action without waiting for proof. **In simple terms:** Repeated patterns indicate threats; act now. Key Takeaway Do not delay when danger becomes clear. Themes danger action pattern recognition Mood tense motivational Type advice strategic When to use this quote - security work - investigations - personal safety Key Concepts enemy action probability decision making Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust intuition over evidence? - How do you balance caution with urgency? A Different Perspective Acting hastily can lead to mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. -Ian Fleming”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swapna-rajput/once-is-happenstance-twice-is-coincidence-three-times-is-enemy-action/) Swapna Rajput > [“Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/mr-bond-they-have-a-saying-in-chicago-once-is-happenstance-twice-is/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/once-is-happenstance-twice-is-coincidence-three-times-is-enemy-action-2/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Something that happens once is nothing. Something that repeats itself, or happens twice, is a coincidence. Something that happens three times, or more…then there’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-bode/something-that-happens-once-is-nothing-something-that-repeats-itself/) [Maya Bode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-bode/) > [“Once is a stranger; twice is a coincidence; three times is a tail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/once-is-a-stranger-twice-is-a-coincidence-three-times-is-a-tail/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“Repeat a mistake once, it's a lesson. Twice, it's a coincidence. Thrice, it's a subscription to a comedy show called "Oops, I Did It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monika-ajay-kaul/repeat-a-mistake-once-it-s-a-lesson-twice-it-s-a-coincidence-thrice/) [Monika Ajay Kaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monika-ajay-kaul/) > [If you do something once, people will call it an accident. If you do it twice, they call it a coincidence. But do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-hopper/if-you-do-something-once-people-will-call-it-an-accident-if-you-do-it/) [Grace Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-hopper/) > [“I want to be more like James Bond, and less like Ian Fleming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-want-to-be-more-like-james-bond-and-less-like-ian-fleming/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“If Fran Lebowitz and Ian Fleming had blessed the world with a love child it would have been author J. Fields Jr.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-medina/if-fran-lebowitz-and-ian-fleming-had-blessed-the-world-with-a-love/) Edward Medina > [Now, I'll tell you something that might interest you. Casino Royale was the first Bond book that Ian Fleming ever wrote. 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He should have been awarded a knighthood, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/for-a-brief-moment-ian-fleming-made-being-an-englishman-seem-sexy/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [Ian Fleming and Norman Felton were friends. 'U.N.C.L.E.' was basically a tongue-in-cheek 'Bond.' It wasn't quite as serious and dramatic as 'Bond,' nor did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-vaughn/ian-fleming-and-norman-felton-were-friends-u-n-c-l-e-was-basically-a/) [Robert Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-vaughn/) > [Ian Fleming used to base his characters on real people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-dux/ian-fleming-used-to-base-his-characters-on-real-people/) [Frank Dux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-dux/) ## More by Barry Eisler > [“But, like all indulgences that are valued not just for their product but for their process, the sento will never entirely disappear. For in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/but-like-all-indulgences-that-are-valued-not-just-for-their-product/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“She’s a bargirl. You don’t know where her loyalties lie. That one was unconvincing. No one had directed her against me—I was the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/she-s-a-bargirl-you-don-t-know-where-her-loyalties-lie-that-one-was/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“In my unpleasant experience, unarmed against a knife, you’ve basically got four options. Your best bet is to run like hell, if you can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/in-my-unpleasant-experience-unarmed-against-a-knife-you-ve-basically/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [The most important guideline when it comes to argument is the golden rule. 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I wondered for a moment how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-heard-laughter-and-looked-up-some-kids-at-the-terminal-next-to-me/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I shifted my head slightly. The corners of our mouths brushed together. I felt her breath on my cheek. Then we were kissing. Her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-shifted-my-head-slightly-the-corners-of-our-mouths-brushed-together/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I looked at her. Why was it her question seemed suffused with double entendre? She was attractive, of course, more than attractive, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-looked-at-her-why-was-it-her-question-seemed-suffused-with-double/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I realized my knowledge of that potentially damning evidence gave Delilah a reason to want me out of the way. “Out of the way”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-realized-my-knowledge-of-that-potentially-damning-evidence-gave/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I wouldn’t want to try to take this guy out with anything less than a scoped rifle. Which is something that’s hard to confuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-wouldn-t-want-to-try-to-take-this-guy-out-with-anything-less-than-a/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I picked up the earthen cup and went to take a sip. “Not like that,” Miyamoto said. “Let it cool a little. Give yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-picked-up-the-earthen-cup-and-went-to-take-a-sip-not-like-that/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“It seemed he’d recently learned the value of playing up the difficulty of accomplishing whatever he was tasked with, the better to play the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/it-seemed-he-d-recently-learned-the-value-of-playing-up-the/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“Yukiko walked over, her mouth stretching into a feline grin at the sight of Murakami. Naomi followed a moment later. She was wearing another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/yukiko-walked-over-her-mouth-stretching-into-a-feline-grin-at-the/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [It would be awesome to be so impressive that we could sway people to our way of thinking just by declaiming our thoughts, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/it-would-be-awesome-to-be-so-impressive-that-we-could-sway-people-to/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) [Explore all 305 Barry Eisler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) ## More Past time quotes > [Remembering the past times. Those good times. When you were all so happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remembering-the-past-times-those-good-times-when-you-were-all-so-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There have been extensive human rights violations by American psychiatrists over the last 70 years. These doctors were pad by the American taxpayer through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-a-ross/there-have-been-extensive-human-rights-violations-by-american/) [Colin A. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-a-ross/) > [“In the temple of science are many mansions, and various indeed are they that dwell therein and the motives that have led them thither.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/in-the-temple-of-science-are-many-mansions-and-various-indeed-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“What is a great love of books? It is something like a personal introduction to the great and good men of all past times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bright/what-is-a-great-love-of-books-it-is-something-like-a-personal/) [John Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bright/) > [“When that little clock on my wall says “Olaotan! Olaotan!! Olaotan!!! It’s half past time to write”, I only have three things at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaotan-fawehinmi/when-that-little-clock-on-my-wall-says-olaotan-olaotan-olaotan-it-s/) [Olaotan Fawehinmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaotan-fawehinmi/) > [We have unmistakable proof that throughout all past time, there has been a ceaseless devouring of the weak by the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/we-have-unmistakable-proof-that-throughout-all-past-time-there-has/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“I was barely breathing now, my head felt light. I stumbled to the nearest bench and I clasped my hands together, my fingers gripping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-thiel/i-was-barely-breathing-now-my-head-felt-light-i-stumbled-to-the/) [Tamara Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-thiel/) > [It is past time to hold Washington accountable for runaway, wasteful spending that is fueling inflation and endangering our nation's future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-britt/it-is-past-time-to-hold-washington-accountable-for-runaway-wasteful/) [Katie Britt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-britt/) > [In books lies the soul fo the whole past time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/in-books-lies-the-soul-fo-the-whole-past-time/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The embrace of present and past time, in which English antiquarianism becomes a form of alchemy, engenders a strange timelessness. It is as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/the-embrace-of-present-and-past-time-in-which-english-antiquarianism/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [People from the past always seem to have much more time to create beautiful, intricate, delicate things that often reach the future in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/people-from-the-past-always-seem-to-have-much-more-time-to-create/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [“We are all familiar with intellectuals who speak only on behalf of their country, class, religion, 'race,' 'gender,' or 'sexual orientation,' and who shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/we-are-all-familiar-with-intellectuals-who-speak-only-on-behalf-of/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [I don't use the harpsichord because it evokes a past time period: I use it because I like the sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-don-t-use-the-harpsichord-because-it-evokes-a-past-time-period-i/) [Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/) > [It's past time to go when you start asking yourself if it's time to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rotsler/it-s-past-time-to-go-when-you-start-asking-yourself-if-it-s-time-to-go/) [William Rotsler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rotsler/) > [Also, what mountains of dead ashes, wreck and burnt bones, does assiduous pedantry dig up from the past time and name it History.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/also-what-mountains-of-dead-ashes-wreck-and-burnt-bones-does/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) Browse all 144 Past time quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What did Ian Fleming say? 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