# What are your favorite James Bond one-liners?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 25, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024 "2011-11-25T05:18:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/41 "2011-11-27T15:04:56Z")

</div>

I had interpreted the OP to mean best lines by Bond, not necessarily just by anyone in a Bond film. But with that broadened criteria, I submit, from The World is not Enough, this line by Zukovsky, after Bond ambushes him from behind a door, at gunpoint:

“Can’t you ever just say ‘Hello’?”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashley_Pomeroy)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/42 "2011-11-27T15:53:55Z")

</div>

> [@Typo\_Knig](#):
>
> Dalton, in The Living Daylights: “Georgi will pay.” Dalton’s delivery was perfect.

I’ve always liked Dalton’s comeback at the top of the IMDB’s quotes page for that film:

Kara Milovy: You were fantastic. We’re free!  
James Bond: Kara, we’re inside a Russian airbase in the middle of Afghanistan.

'course, it’s dated now. Who remembers Afghanistan, and the Mujahideen? Ah, the mid-80s. Back when the Libyans were the baddies and people were worried about nuclear reactors. I remember blowing up Libyan SAM sites in _F-15 Strike Eagle II_, simpler times.

But, also this quip, from _From Russia with Love_:

[Moneypenny, M, and other officials are listening to Bond’s taped interview of Tatiana Romanova]  
Tatiana: The mechanism is… Oh James, James… Will you make love to me all the time in England?  
James Bond: Day and night. Go on about the mechanism.

It’s the delivery that does it; he says “day and night” as if she was offering him a cupcake. Bear in mind that Tatiana looked like this:

> **[Daniela Bianchi](https://www.imdb.com/media/rm223642880/nm0000938)**
>
> Daniela Bianchi in From Russia with Love (1963)

The lovely Daniela Bianchi there, one of a seemingly endless string of extraordinarily attractive women scattered throughout the Sean Connery Bond films. They all seemed to be get married to extremely rich people before retiring from the silver screen.

See, as a kid I thought the Connery Bonds were boring, because they didn’t have spaceships or Sheriff J W Pepper, but after buying a boxed set of the Connery Bonds a while back I’ve come to the conclusion that I was a stupid, stupid child. They’re entertaining, like a three-course meal, and I can’t imagine the impact they had on audiences in Britain in the early 1960s.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/43 "2011-11-27T16:59:50Z")

</div>

There is very little that is any good about _Die Another Day_ but there is one absolute zinger in there from John Cleese as Q.

Bond: You’re cleverer than you look.  
Q: Better than looking cleverer than you are.

Plays very well, especially as Brosnan plays Bond as a total dick in the relevant scene.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/44 "2011-11-27T17:31:03Z")

</div>

> [@Cumbrian](#):
>
> There is very little that is any good about _Die Another Day_

Actually, The first half is pretty good. It turns to shit when the invisible car is shown, and it’s dismal from then on.

> [@](#):
>
> but there is one absolute zinger in there from John Cleese as Q.

Another one, when meeting Bond for the first time.

“Ah, the famous double oh seven wit, or half of one.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/45 "2011-11-27T17:41:07Z")

</div>

[From The World is Not Enough, with Denise Richards:](http://www.altaride.com/JdR/JB007/Images_Jb007/deniserichards_s_bondmovie_005.jpg)

Dr. Christmas Jones: The world’s greatest terrorist running around with six kilos of weapons-grade plutonium can’t be good. I gotta get it back, or someone’s gonna have my ass.

James Bond: First things first.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/46 "2011-11-27T18:21:26Z")

</div>

> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> Actually, The first half is pretty good. It turns to shit when the invisible car is shown, and it’s dismal from then on.
> 
> Another one, when meeting Bond for the first time.
> 
> “Ah, the famous double oh seven wit, or half of one.”

Amusingly, now you mention it, Cleese has to show Bond that bloody car. I think we’ll have to agree to differ on DAD though. The shoe-horning in of Madonna is particularly egregious, as is the over-emphasis on in-jokes (just because it was the 20th of the series), all of which happens before Cleese comes on. As you note from there on it is pretty awful - any film that requires the whole franchise to be rebooted is not covering itself in glory. Shame really, as it wasted a pretty good set up (Bond spends 14 months being tortured after capture and has his licence revoked under the assumption that he cracked).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/47 "2011-11-27T19:57:10Z")

</div>

“shaken, not stirred”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/48 "2011-11-28T04:21:00Z")

</div>

> [@Cumbrian](#):
>
> I think we’ll have to agree to differ on DAD though.

I don’t think our opinions are noticeably different. As far as I understand you, we both think it started good and finished bad.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/49 "2011-11-28T04:42:32Z")

</div>

> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> I don’t think our opinions are noticeably different. As far as I understand you, we both think it started good and finished bad.

I actually saw DAD for the first time on Syfy the other day and I feel the same way. Interesting premise wasted on an otherwise silly film.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/50 "2011-11-28T06:15:05Z")

</div>

“bolan, mac bolan.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/51 "2011-11-28T20:54:47Z")

</div>

“Just trying to keep the British end up, sir.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [November 28, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/52 "2011-11-28T20:59:12Z")

</div>

> [@joebuck20](#):
>
> I actually saw DAD for the first time on Syfy the other day and I feel the same way. Interesting premise wasted on an otherwise silly film.

The prolonged sword duel at the fencing club is also quite good, I thought.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/53 "2011-11-30T02:19:45Z")

</div>

“There were a lot of things he could say. “Son of a bitch!” would have been a good one. Or he could say, “Welcome to civilization!” He could have said, “Laugh this one off!” He might have said, “Fetch!” But he didn’t, because if he had said any of those things then he’d have known that what he had just done was murder.”

What?\* What\*?:dubious:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/54 "2011-11-30T03:47:24Z")

</div>

“I think he’s attempting re-entry.”  
Of note, when I first heard this, I was too young to get the joke.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/55 "2011-11-30T20:06:38Z")

</div>

> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> The \*\*prolonged \*\*sword duel at the fencing club is also quite good, I thought.

It went on too long and became annoying, IMHO. It might have been good, if it was a bit shorter. Being too prolonged made it bad.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/56 "2011-11-30T22:10:35Z")

</div>

> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> It went on too long and became annoying, IMHO. It might have been good, if it was a bit shorter. Being too prolonged made it bad.

I liked it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SunSandSuffering](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@SunSandSuffering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunSandSuffering)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/57 "2011-12-01T12:07:15Z")

</div>

To address the (mis)balance / Roger Moore / Man With the Golden Gun:

\<eek\> I’ve lost my charm!

Not from where I’m standing…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/58 "2011-12-01T12:47:11Z")

</div>

> [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](#):
>
> “There were a lot of things he could say. “Son of a bitch!” would have been a good one. Or he could say, “Welcome to civilization!” He could have said, “Laugh this one off!” He might have said, “Fetch!” But he didn’t, because if he had said any of those things then he’d have known that what he had just done was murder.”
> 
> What?\* What\*?:dubious:

That would be a Sam Vimes quote.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![thebenn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@thebenn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thebenn)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/59 "2011-12-01T14:42:15Z")

</div>

One of the Roger Moore movies, and I’m roughly paraphrasing:

Bond has just finished bedding a lovely lady when he is called away for a mission.

She asks him to make love to her once more before he leaves.

Bond smirks, leans over to kiss her, and nonchalantly quips “I suppose it’s better not to go off half-cocked”.

I giggle just thinking of this scene.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024/60 "2011-12-01T15:12:57Z")

</div>

In Never Say Never Again (I think, correct me if I’m wrong), Bond’s in a health spa, and a nurse is standing about six feet away from Bond, and tells him to fill a cup (for a urine sample).

“From here?”

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024.md?page=2)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-james-bond-one-liners/604024.md?page=4)
