Summary

• From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, every 007 actor has provided some of the best James Bond quotes in the franchise.
• 007's puns and one-liners are a key reason the James Bond movies have been so successful.
• Catchphrases like "The name's Bond, James Bond" and "I'll have a vodka martinini - shaken, not stirred" are among the most recognizable in cinema history.

007's 25 movies are so littered with witty dialogue and wry one-liners that the best James Bond quotes rank among the most globally recognized in cinema history. James Bond first appeared in Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale in 1953. However, the iconic and highly quotable 007 movies are why Britain's most famous fictional spy is a decades-spanning franchise. Sean Connery first played 007 on the big screen. Over the years, actors George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig have all played the spy for Eon Productions' films, each delivering a unique slant on 007.

The most famous James Bond quotes include some of the most iconic lines from the history of movies, with great puns and catchphrases from every era of the spy franchise. From Sean Connery's influential first appearance in Dr. No to Daniel Craig's last in No Time to Die, 007 has been delivering unforgettable quotes for 60 years. Though aspects of the James Bond franchise have changed over the decades, 007's quick wit and distinctly dark sense of humor have remained.

45 "Bond. James Bond."

James Bond in Dr. No (1962)

One of the most iconic James Bond lines came from his very first scene on the big screen back in 1962. Out of all the James Bond quotes out there, “Bond. James Bond” has to be without a doubt the most well-known. When Bond is introduced, he is sitting at a casino table playing Baccarat. When his opponent, Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson), says that she ires his luck and asks him his name, Bond replies by simply saying, “Bond. James Bond.”

The line has been repeated in several of the 007 movies but there is a certain magic to Connery's first delivery of the words. Since its first use, several other films have taken inspiration from the catchphrase, showing how iconic it has become over the years. The best part of the phrase is how easily it is for 007 to drop into a conversation or moment, whether he is introducing himself, involved in a high-octane action sequence, or even during a romantic moment. It is the most crowd-pleasing of the James Bond quotes.

44 "Yes. Considerably."

James Bond In Casino Royale (2006)

In adapting the first ever James Bond novel, Casino Royale really captured the grounded and grittier spy story. It also allowed Daniel Craig to cement himself as a new version of the character, one who was still a likable heroic lead, but also by far the most cold-blooded 007 of the franchise to that point. This was quickly established in the first scene, showing Bond’s first two kills, which earned him his double-0 status.

The scene features Bond’s conversation with the mole inside MI-6 named Dryden, while interspersed with Bond's first kill of Dryden’s . The black-and-white fight sequence is brutal and violent, a different kind of action than the Bond movies previously had. Dryden reassures Bond that his second kill will be easier, leading to Bond calmly executing the man and agreeing with that assessment. It is a bold and memorable introduction to this new take on Bond.

43 "Do You Expect Me To Talk?"

James Bond In Goldfinger (1964)

Bond’s interactions with villains make for some of the most memorable moments in the Bond franchise and one of the best Bond villains of all time is Auric Goldfinger. He makes for a despicable and greedy nemesis in the movie, but he is also highly entertaining and has his own great lines. One of the most iconic exchanges comes from a moment in which Goldfinger has the upper hand.

Bond is strapped to a table with a laser pointed at him and gradually moving closer to the super spy. It is one of the rare times when Sean Connery’s Bond appears nervous and even scared. He attempts to show a brave face by asking Goldfinger if these tactics are meant to make him talk, only for Goldfinger to reply, “No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die.” It is a cheeky exchange in which the villain gets the rare win over Bond.

42 "You First."

James Bond In GoldenEye (1995)

One of the best dynamics Bond has with a villain in the franchise is the one between Pierce Brosnan’s 007 and Sean Bean’s Alec Trevelyan in GoldenEye. The two men share history and it seems as though Bond truly looked at this fellow agent as a friend. However, when he learns that Alec is a traitor, he is ready to show no mercy to him and even seems to make it a personal vendetta.

When Bond once again returns after being left for dead, Alec makes the humorous observation “Why can't you just be a good boy and die?” with Bond coldly responding with this promise. It is one of the best examples of how Brosnan was perhaps the best actor at balancing the charming humor of Bond with his cold-blooded aspects, which leaves emotion out of it when he’s on a mission.

41 "Well, I Wouldn’t Be Very Good At My Job If It Did."

James Bond In Casino Royale (2006)

There are some who would like to see the next iteration of Bond be a bit lighter than what was seen in the Daniel Craig movies. However, it is hard to deny that the franchise was in need of a more serious tone at the time and Craig was also excellent at playing the tortured elements of Bond in these movies.

One of the best aspects of the collection of Craig movies was the relationship he shared with Vesper Lynd, which began in Casino Royale. From that first movie, she challenged the persona of the heartless assassin, questioning how he is so easily able to get over killing some men. The fact that Bond dismisses it as simply part of his job sets up an ongoing theme in Craig’s run of Bond, where his work with MI-6 is seen as giving him purpose but also destroying him.

40 "Target."

James Bond In Skyfall (2012)

It is amazing that James Bond was a movie character for over 50 years and the movies never really explored very much more about his backstory. Skyfall finally began to address some of this, and while it was not necessary to enjoy the character, there were some fascinating moments of exploring this character deeper than any movie previously had.

One of the most insightful sequences is when Bond undergoes a psychological examination upon returning to MI-6, and he does a word association exercise. There are some notable revelations in the scene, such as his unsavory word in answer to M, as well as the fact that he is shaken at the mention of “Skyfall”. However, when he is prompted with the word “heart,” Bond’s response of “target” is a perfect sign of the dark mind of Craig’s 007.

39 "I Always Enjoyed Studying A New Tongue."

James Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

After the success of GoldenEye, Pierce Brosnan returned to the role of James Bond for Tomorrow Never Dies. In the film, Bond teams up with Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh) to take down a megalomaniacal media mogul (Jonathan Pryce) who's trying to start a new World War for his own personal gain. However, this James Bond quote comes from an intimate moment between 007 and a Danish professor named Inga Bergstrom (Cecilie Thomsen), who also serves as his Scandinavian language tutor.

The line is a nice double-entendre, which is normal for James Bond quotes

Bond says this line while he's in bed with Bergstrom, and it shows just how self-aware the writers of the Bond movies are regarding 007's successful bachelor lifestyle. The line is a nice double-entendre, which is normal for James Bond quotes, as she is his language tutor, so it is literally what he is with her for, but it also has more sexual connotations, which makes it perfect for the moment.

38 “Hello. We’re Teachers On Sabbatical And We’ve Just Won The Lottery.”

James Bond in Quantum of Solace (2008)

Daniel Craig's James Bond was a darker and more brooding take on the character, but that doesn't mean he wasn't able to be funny as well. Craig's humor in the role was more of a rebellious cheekiness that made for some very funny moments. When going undercover with Agent Fields in Quantum of Solace, Fields wants to keep a low profile, staying at a modest hotel as two teachers on sabbatical. Bond instead ventures into a much swankier hotel and tweaks the cover story to his needs.

This Bond quote is a sign of his recklessness and playfulness, which are evident yet underrated aspects of Craig's 007. It is a hilarious moment for Bond, especially when he glances over at Fields, making it one of the best lines in the entire movie. It was a great way for him to let Fields know that he respects her idea of the cover story, but at the same time, isn't willing to accept anything less than the best, which is exactly what James Bond is all about.

37 “Exactly. I Am Now Aiming Precisely At Your Groin. So Speak Or Forever Hold Your Piece.”

James Bond in The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

Though each of the Bond actors had fun with the humorous aspect of the character, none of them embraced it as much as Roger Moore. Moore's Bond movies were the most comedic and were the most willing to leave reality behind for some wild adventures. This also resulted in some of the most boundary-pushing one-liners, like this one from The Man with the Golden Gun. Holding gunsmith Lazar (Marne Maitland) at gunpoint, Bond explains that he is aiming at the man's groin and delivers this threatening double entendre.

It is hard to imagine any Bond other than Moore getting away with such a line. The entire line is a simple way for Bond to show that he is not only completely calm but is in complete control of the situation. He remains stoic and deadly as he speaks to Lazar about selling bullets and guns to villains, and it is enough to get the truth out of the man, who immediately gives him the information Bond needs when 007 fires one warning shot that just barely misses the gunsmith.

36 "What A Helpful Chap."

James Bond In The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Though Moore's Bond was the most playful, that doesn't mean he didn't channel 007's cold-blooded side as well. One such moment comes in The Spy Who Loved Me when Bond fights Sandor (Milton Reid) on a rooftop. After a long fight, they end up by the edge, and the man nearly falls off a roof, saved only by managing to grab Bond's necktie. As the man hangs over the edge, Bond asks him where Aziz Fekkesh is. Believing Bond will save him if he tells the truth, he quickly says he is at the pyramids.

However, once he gets the information, Bond pulls away his tie, causing Sandor to fall to his death. After this, James Bond looks at the dead body on the ground and delivers this stone-cold one-liner. The fact that Bond makes a joke about the dead man who offered him information shows how little remorse he has for taking out villains. Roger Moore's James Bond was funny at times, but he killed with no remorse.