“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it’s enemy action.”

—  Ian Fleming, book Goldfinger

The quote "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it’s enemy action." is famous quote by Ian Fleming (1908–1964), English author, journalist and naval intelligence officer.

Variant: Mr Bond, they have a saying in Chicago: 'Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action'.
Source: Auric Goldfinger, Ch. 14 : Things That Go Thump In The Night

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update April 18, 2023. History

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Ian Fleming photo
Ian Fleming44
English author, journalist and naval intelligence officer 1908–1964

Related quotes

““A lot of things seem to be happening, all at once,” I told Chester.
“Enemy action,” he replied.
“Huh?”
“That’s what you told me once. An old Army motto you found when you were doing those war books. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action. This is the third time.””

Michael Kurland book The Unicorn Girl

Source: The Unicorn Girl (1969), Chapter 2 (p. 22)
Kurland is actually quoting here from Ian Fleming’s novel Goldfinger

Paulo Coelho quote: “Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.”
Paulo Coelho photo

“Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.”

Paulo Coelho book The Alchemist

Source: The Alchemist (1988), p. 184; this also has been quoted as "What happens once will never happen again. But what happens twice will surely happen a third time."

Miyamoto Musashi photo

“The "mountain-sea" spirit means that it is bad to repeat the same thing several times when fighting the enemy. There may be no help but to do something twice, but do not try it a third time.”

Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645) Japanese martial artist, writer, artist

Go Rin No Sho (1645), The Fire Book
Context: The "mountain-sea" spirit means that it is bad to repeat the same thing several times when fighting the enemy. There may be no help but to do something twice, but do not try it a third time. If you once make an attack and fail, there is little chance of success if you use the same approach again.

“First time it's a stranger. Second time its just a coincidence. Third time it's a tail”

Ally Carter Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

Source: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy

Alethea Kontis photo

“First time's a fluke; second time's a coincidence," said Velius.
"Third time's tradition," finished Erik.”

Alethea Kontis (1976) American writer

Source: Enchanted

Joyce Meyer photo

“Try a thing you haven't done three times. Once to get over the fear of doing it. Twice to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.”

Joyce Meyer (1943) American author and speaker

Paulo Coelho photo

“I'm an old, superstitious Arab, and I believe in our proverbs. There's one that says, 'Everything that happens once can never happen again. But anything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.”

Paulo Coelho book The Alchemist

Source: The Alchemist

Jeffrey Montgomery photo

“Never repeat the words of your enemy. When you do, their words are heard twice and yours only once.”

Jeffrey Montgomery (1953–2016) American LGBT rights activist and public relations executive

[Woodhull Freedom Foundation mourns death of one of its founders, Jeffrey Montgomery, Levy, Ricci J., Woodhull Freedom Foundation, July 19, 2016, 2016-07-20, http://www.woodhullfoundation.org/2016/sex-and-politics/woodhull-freedom-foundation-mourns-death-of-one-of-its-founders-jeffrey-montgomery-a-leader-activist-a-mentor-and-sexual-freedom-movement-hero/]

Ernest Gellner photo

“Primitive man has lived twice: once in and for himself, and the second time for us, in our reconstruction.”

Ernest Gellner (1925–1995) Czech anthropologist, philosopher and sociologist

Plough, Sword, and Book: The Structure of Human History (1988)

Martin Luther King, Jr. photo

“Third we must not seek to defeat or humiliate the enemy but to win his friendship and understanding. At times we are able to humiliate our worst enemy.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American clergyman, activist, and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement

1950s, Loving Your Enemies (Christmas 1957)
Context: Third we must not seek to defeat or humiliate the enemy but to win his friendship and understanding. At times we are able to humiliate our worst enemy. Inevitably, his weak moments come and we are able to thrust in his side the spear of defeat. But this we must not do. Every word and deed must contribute to an understanding with the enemy and release those vast reservoirs of goodwill which have been blocked by impenetrable walls of hate.

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