Art, From Failure

Only one of the following three stories is true:

It is May 1941. Taking a roundabout way to America with his country at war, Ian Fleming spends the night at the Palacio Hotel in Estoril, Portugal. After dinner Ian took to the casino for some high stakes gambling as had been his wont in pre-war times. In a lucky ride of events, he's able to walk away a handsome winner and is glad to have such a pleasant diversion before continuing his journey to the truly high stakes of his role in engaging America in the war effort. "Look here, Godfrey, a tidy sum we can blow when we get to America."

It is May 1941. Taking a roundabout way to America with his country at war, Ian Fleming spends the night at the Palacio Hotel in Estoril, Portugal. After dinner Ian took to the casino for some routine gambling as had been his wont in pre-war times. In a forgettable ride of events, he's able to walk away even but is unperturbed to have a not particularly memorable diversion before continuing his journey to the high stakes of his role in engaging America in the war effort. When asked how he did at the tables, Ian replied in a noncommittal manner, "Comme ci, comme ca."

It is May 1941. Taking a roundabout way to America with his country at war, Ian Fleming spends the night at the Palacio Hotel in Estoril, Portugal. After dinner Ian took to the casino for some low stakes gambling as had been his wont in pre-war times. In a stinging turn of events, he walks away a loser and is morose having had such a drab and uneventful evening before continuing his journey to the high stakes of his role in engaging America in the war effort. When leaving the tables he's driven to cheer himself up. "What if my fellow gamblers had been German secret agents, and suppose we had cleaned them out of their money; now that would have been exciting."

Fleming's horror of boredom drove him to find inspiration, so that his monetary loss became a win in life. His imagined scene of secret agents is later recreated in the first Bond novel "Casino Royale" where the enemy spy Le Chiffre is outwitted at the baccarat table. Ian's weakness for the pointlessness of gambling was made whole through turning to belief. He did not settle for chastising himself for the wasted time, nor meaninglessly beseech "God forgive me" as he handed away his cash, nor did he resort to bitterness, but rather to believing in himself even after having faltered. Art, from failure.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”