Bad luck Quote by Ian Fleming
““Above all, he liked it that everything was one's own fault. There was only oneself to praise or blame. Luck was a servant and not a master. Luck had to be accepted with a shrug or taken advantage of up to the hilt. But it had to be understood and recognized for what it was and not confused with a faulty appreciation of the odds, for, at gambling, the deadly sin is to mistake bad play for bad luck. And luck in all its moods had to be loved and not feared. Bond saw luck as a woman, to be softly wooed or brutally ravaged, never pandered to or pursued. But he was honest enough to admit that he had never yet been made to suffer by cards or by women. One day, and he accepted the fact, he would be brought to his knees by love or by luck. When that happened he knew that he too would be branded with the deadly question-mark he recognized so often in others, the promise to pay before you have lost: the acceptance of fallibility.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Spy Who Loved Me, 1962
The passage explores the complex relationship with luck, portraying it as a force to be accepted, understood, and sometimes exploited, while warning against confusing chance with skill.
In simple terms: Luck is a force to accept and use wisely.
Key Takeaway
Accept and navigate luck wisely.
Themes
philosophy
chance
personal responsibility
gambling
love
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- Making strategic decisions
- learning from failures
- balancing risk and reward
Key Concepts
Determinism
probability
human agency
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate luck from skill?
- When should you trust luck versus planning?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on luck can undermine personal accountability.
