--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago…" description: "\"“Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'.”\" — Ian Fleming" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/ian-fleming-1862_coincidence_mr-bond-they-have-a-saying-in-chicago-on_157022.jpg" --- # Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is… ![“Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'.” quote by Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/ian-fleming-1862_coincidence_mr-bond-they-have-a-saying-in-chicago-on_157022.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/ian-fleming-1862_coincidence_mr-bond-they-have-a-saying-in-chicago-on_157022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d39/ian-fleming-1862_coincidence_mr-bond-they-have-a-saying-in-chicago-on_157022.jpg) > ““Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'.”” [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Repeated patterns reveal intent; the third occurrence signals hostility. **In simple terms:** Patterns show hidden motives. Key Takeaway Watch for repeated signs of danger. Themes pattern recognition danger strategy Mood analytical cautious Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal relationships - security analysis Key Concepts risk assessment critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - When might a pattern be coincidental? - How do you differentiate chance from intent? A Different Perspective Not every pattern is malicious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coincidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“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 > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/what-did-ian-fleming-say-once-is-happenstance-twice-is-coincidence/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [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/) > [Someone asked if I wanted to be the first female Bond, and I was saying that I don't think we necessarily need that whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-pugh/someone-asked-if-i-wanted-to-be-the-first-female-bond-and-i-was/) [Florence Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-pugh/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [ When I wrote the first \[Bond novel\] in 1953, I wanted Bond to be an extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened... when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/when-i-wrote-the-first-bond-novel-in-1953-i-wanted-bond-to-be-an/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [ “He had seen how the spirit, the reserves in \[Bond\], could pull him out of badly damaged conditions that would have broken the normal… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/he-had-seen-how-the-spirit-the-reserves-in-bond-could-pull-him-out-of/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“It is not just a question of blowing up a building or shooting a prime minister. Such bourgeois horseplay is not contemplated. Our operation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/it-is-not-just-a-question-of-blowing-up-a-building-or-shooting-a/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“I've found that one must try and teach people that there's no top limit to disaster-that, so long as breath remains in your body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/i-ve-found-that-one-must-try-and-teach-people-that-there-s-no-top/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“The naked man who lay splayed out on his face beside the swimming pool might have been dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/the-naked-man-who-lay-splayed-out-on-his-face-beside-the-swimming/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“They had a table near the rail round the huge floor. Bond was spellbound. He found many of the girls very beautiful. The music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/they-had-a-table-near-the-rail-round-the-huge-floor-bond-was/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Bond looked at the beautiful day and smiled. And no man, not even Mr. Big, would have liked the expression on his face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/bond-looked-at-the-beautiful-day-and-smiled-and-no-man-not-even-mr/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) ## More by Ian Fleming > [Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/most-marriages-don-t-add-two-people-together-they-subtract-one-from/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [All women love semi-rape. They love to be taken.It was his sweet brutality against my bruised body that made his act of love so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/all-women-love-semi-rape-they-love-to-be-taken-it-was-his-sweet/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Shooting hell out of a piece of cardboard doesn't prove anything' was his single-line introduction to the Small-arms Defence Manual.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/shooting-hell-out-of-a-piece-of-cardboard-doesn-t-prove-anything-was/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Danger, like a third man, was standing in the room.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/danger-like-a-third-man-was-standing-in-the-room/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Those who deserve to die, die the death they deserve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/those-who-deserve-to-die-die-the-death-they-deserve/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“There was no sign of life round the domed emplacement of the Moonraker, and the concrete, already beginning to shimmer in the early morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/there-was-no-sign-of-life-round-the-domed-emplacement-of-the/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [The World Is Not Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/the-world-is-not-enough/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Somebody said that to become very rich you have to be helped by a combination of remarkable circumstances and an unbroken run of luck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/somebody-said-that-to-become-very-rich-you-have-to-be-helped-by-a/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [Worry is a dividend paid to disaster before it is due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/worry-is-a-dividend-paid-to-disaster-before-it-is-due/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Bond smelt the smell of danger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/bond-smelt-the-smell-of-danger/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [All the greatest men are maniacs. They are possessed by a mania which drives them forward towards thier goal. The great scientists, the philosophers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/all-the-greatest-men-are-maniacs-they-are-possessed-by-a-mania-which/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Surround yourself with human beings, my dear James. They are easier to fight for than principles.' He laughed. 'But don't let me down and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/surround-yourself-with-human-beings-my-dear-james-they-are-easier-to/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/the-scent-and-smoke-and-sweat-of-a-casino-are-nauseating-at-three-in/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Was it true what The Big Man had said, that she would have nothing to do with men? He doubted it. She seemed open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/was-it-true-what-the-big-man-had-said-that-she-would-have-nothing-to/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Bond looked at the beautiful day and smiled. And no man, not even Mr. Big, would have liked the expression on his face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/bond-looked-at-the-beautiful-day-and-smiled-and-no-man-not-even-mr/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) [Explore all 199 Ian Fleming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) ## More Coincidence quotes > [“Symbols are miracles we have recorded into language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/symbols-are-miracles-we-have-recorded-into-language/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [“Coincidence is the exception, not the rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soheir-khashoggi/coincidence-is-the-exception-not-the-rule/) [Soheir Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soheir-khashoggi/) > [Is it a coincidence that stories from the private life became more popular just as the grand hope for public redemption through revolution was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/is-it-a-coincidence-that-stories-from-the-private-life-became-more/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [It was an odd coincidence that my career took off the same decade as having babies. I often wished it had been different, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kaczmarek/it-was-an-odd-coincidence-that-my-career-took-off-the-same-decade-as/) [Jane Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kaczmarek/) > [“Every emotion in the world wishes to be expressed, every task desires to be done. Coincidence is the perfect texture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-geary/every-emotion-in-the-world-wishes-to-be-expressed-every-task-desires/) [Patricia Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-geary/) > [It's not coincidence that these attacks come at the exact same moment, and all together at the same time as WikiLeaks releases documents exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-not-coincidence-that-these-attacks-come-at-the-exact-same-moment/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“You wonder if that really constitutes being ‘a coincidence’ but don’t press her on the issue, instead sticking your hand down your pocket to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-kerkhoven/you-wonder-if-that-really-constitutes-being-a-coincidence-but-don-t/) Rudolf Kerkhoven > [A thrumming of piano-strings beyond the gardens and through the elms. At length the melody steals into my being. I know not when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-thrumming-of-piano-strings-beyond-the-gardens-and-through-the-elms/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“We cannot see how our lives will unfold. What is destiny and What is accident? And how can one ever be certain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-ostlere/we-cannot-see-how-our-lives-will-unfold-what-is-destiny-and-what-is/) [Cathy Ostlere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-ostlere/) > [When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-live-your-life-with-an-appreciation-of-coincidences-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s amazing how many coincidences occur when one begins to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/it-s-amazing-how-many-coincidences-occur-when-one-begins-to-pray/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [“Premonitions are coincidences waiting to happen,” he said, without looking up. “I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/premonitions-are-coincidences-waiting-to-happen-he-said-without/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [“A friend of mine once said that she didn't believe in coincidence, that it was God working in her life, not a coincidence every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cameron/a-friend-of-mine-once-said-that-she-didn-t-believe-in-coincidence/) [Barbara Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cameron/) > [Some people suggested that I should try something else. It was a lot of things, but nothing really stood out for me. Nothing felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-kim/some-people-suggested-that-i-should-try-something-else-it-was-a-lot/) [Claudia Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-kim/) [Browse all 823 Coincidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. 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