Loneliness becomes a lover, solitude a darling sin.

— Ian Fleming

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.

— Ian Fleming

Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.

— Ian Fleming

My dear boy', Le Chiffon spoke like a father, 'the game of Red Indians is over, quite over. You have stumbled by mischance into a game for grown-ups, and you have already found it a painful experience. You are not equipped, my dear boy, to play games with adults and it is very foolish of your nanny in London to have sent you out here with your spade and bucket. Very foolish indeed and most unfortunate for you.'' But we must stop joking, my dear fellow, although I am sure you would like to follow me in developing this amusing little cautionary tale.

— Ian Fleming

Never job backwards. What might have been was a waste of time.

— Ian Fleming

Never say ‘no’ to adventures. Always say ‘yes,’ otherwise you’ll lead a very dull life.

— Ian Fleming

Now that little problem of yours, this business of not knowing good men from bad men and villains from heroes and so forth... There's still plenty for you to do. And you'll do it. And when you fall in love and have a mistress or a wife and children to look after, it will all seem easier." He opened the door but stopped on the threshold. "Surround yourself with human beings, my dear. They are easier to fight for than principles." He laughed. "But don't let me down and become human yourself. We would lose such a wonderful machine." With a wave of his hand he shut the door.

— Ian Fleming

Older women are best, because they always think they may be doing it for the last time.

— Ian Fleming

Outside the bus the smell of sulfur hit Bond with sickening force. It was a horrible smell, from somewhere down in the stomach of the world.

— Ian Fleming

People are islands,' she said. 'They don't really touch. However close they are, they're really quite separate. Even if they've been married for fifty years.

— Ian Fleming