The James Bond film series has been a fixture of cinema since 1962, and over the course of the past six decades, the 007 movies have codified no shortage of long-standing tropes. From over-the-top gadgets to seductive love interests to deadly henchmen, there are some things that are simply synonymous with the name James Bond.
This article, however, is all about exploring one particular iconic aspect of the James Bond films: 007’s most memorable quotes. And not just his catchphrases like “Bond, James Bond” or “Shaken, not stirred,” but more specifically the many witty one-liners Bond has uttered throughout his movie career, usually in response to the death of an enemy. There are many lines that could have easily ended up on this list, but in the end, these five quips — arranged in chronological order — stood tall above the rest as the best one-liners in James Bond’s long movie history.
“Shocking, Positively Shocking” (Goldfinger)
It would be a true injustice not to start this list with a line from the original James Bond himself, Sean Connery. And while there are numerous contenders for Connery’s best one-liner, this spot goes to one of the most famous quotes from his third film, 1964’s Goldfinger. In one scene, Bond is attacked by a would-be assassin, who ends up getting tossed into a full bathtub. Bond’s attacker pulls a gun on him, but some quick thinking from 007 leads him to throw a lamp into the tub, electrocuting the assailant to death. Bond’s reply is simply this: “Shocking, positively shocking.”
It’s the archetypical Bond one-liner, which sets the standard for all others to follow. Like many classic Bond quips, it’s a decidedly on-the-nose pun related to a villain’s cause of death. It’s the sort of joke that would easily come off as downright groan-worthy, were it not delivered with the brand of suave sophistication that Bond is known for. As corny as it may be, Connery just makes it work. It’s no wonder that lines like this became a staple of the series.
“No, For Me” (GoldenEye)
Most of Bond’s famous one-liners are flippant reactions to the death of an enemy, showing just how nonchalant he is about taking the lives of his targets — sometimes to the point of appearing cold and callous. But sometimes, even Bond can hold a grudge, as shown by this line from Pierce Brosnan’s 007 in the 1995 classic GoldenEye. The film’s main antagonist is the rogue MI6 agent Alec Trevelyan (Sean Bean), aka 006, who betrayed his country and became a nefarious criminal mastermind. The film’s finale culminates in a one-on-one brawl between the former friends, which ends in Bond holding Trevelyan by the leg as he dangles over the edge of a gigantic satellite dish.
“For England, James?” Trevelyan asks Bond, echoing the battle cry they shared as comrades earlier in the film. “No, for me,” Bond replies as he drops Trevelyan, causing him to fall to his death. Killing is rarely ever personal for Bond, which makes it even more impactful when he makes it clear that his elimination of Trevelyan is indeed an act of revenge. It’s the sort of line that may not seem like much at first, but ends up being incredibly potent in the context of the film’s story.
“They’ll Print Anything These Days” (Tomorrow Never Dies)
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there’s this line from Brosnan’s next outing as 007, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies. The film didn’t quite receive the same acclaim as GoldenEye, but it did provide moviegoers with one of the most wonderfully campy Bond one-liners ever. In one fight scene, Bond knocks an unfortunate goon into a printing press, crushing him to death as his blood stains a sheet of freshly-printed newspaper. Bond’s response: “They’ll print anything these days.”
It’s the ultimate in silly 007 quotes. Not only is it yet another eye-rolling pun, it’s also spoken by Bond while there’s no one else around to hear him. He isn’t saying this to impress anyone, he’s saying it for himself. And as ridiculous as it is, there’s also something beautiful about that. Bond can’t help but take pride in his one-liners, cheesy though they may be. Thankfully, he isn’t alone in appreciating his many witticisms.
“I’ve Got a Little Itch, Down There” (Casino Royale)
2006’s Casino Royale is Daniel Craig’s much-beloved first outing as Bond, and it does a masterful job at taking the series in a grittier, more grounded direction after the over-the-top excess of the Brosnan era. This more real and raw take on 007 is exemplified by the film’s famous torture scene. The final face-off between Bond and his nemesis Le Chiffre — played by the legendary Mads Mikkelsen — isn’t a stylish action-packed showdown, but a brutal torture session, with Bond captive and helpless. But even so, as Bond is brutally beaten in a particularly sensitive area, he has only this to say: “I’ve got a little itch, down there. Would you mind?”
True to Casino Royale’s darker tone, Bond’s greatest one-liner of the film comes not in a moment of triumph, but in a rare moment of pain and vulnerability for 007. All the glamour and mystique of the unstoppable super-spy is literally stripped away, leaving Bond naked, bloody, bruised, and on the verge of tears from the overwhelming pain. But even so, Bond can’t help but taunt Le Chiffre. He may be at his lowest point, but he still refuses to give in. Yet another reason why Casino Royale is widely considered one of the best Bond movies ever made.
“Last Rat Standing” (Skyfall)
Similar to the entry from GoldenEye, this quote from 2012’s Skyfall is one that’s carried by context. Earlier in the film, the main villain Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) introduces himself to Bond with a chilling monologue about the rats on his grandmother’s island, who were exterminated by being trained to eat one another. It’s a clear metaphor for Bond and Silva themselves, and Bond calls back to it with his words after dealing a fatal blow to Silva: “Last rat standing.”
It’s a short, simple line, but it’s a perfect callback to Silva’s ominous speech in his introductory scene. Like Trevelyan before him, Silva is often regarded as one of the best villains in the James Bond series, due in large part to his status as a dark mirror of 007 himself. And just as in GoldenEye, Bond’s final words to Silva serve as an effective coda to their fierce rivalry. Sometimes, less is more in a good one-liner.