Quotation author?

RussH · May 4, 2004

Maybe one of you can help me find the original author of this quotation "Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action". It is not Auric Goldfinger, it was one of the officers under Pershing in Mexico. I can't find it because it is attributed to Auric Goldfinger by nearly everyone in the first million or so references that turn up. Any ideas?
-RussH

naromtap · May 4, 2004

Emilano Zapata?

BF Hammer · May 4, 2004

The only US Army officer I can think of by name serving in the punitive expedition under Pershing was George S. Patton. Doesn't sound out of line with known quotes from him, but I can't confirm it either.

CNC Dan · May 4, 2004

try excluding "Goldfinger" from your search by adding a - to the word Goldfinger.

GJW · May 4, 2004

It's also been attributed to J. Edgar Hoover, Winston Chrurchill, Robert Heinlein, and Al Capone.

I believe that the form you have quoted does come directly from Fleming.
He supposedly borrowed it from an old chinese proverb.

Other variations are:
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is war."
and
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Thrice is destiny."

Quotation author?

RussH

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naromtap

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BF Hammer

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CNC Dan

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GJW

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