M quotes from Spectre (2015)

So what's going on, James? There's not one person at MI6 who isn't talking about it.

James Bond

Talking about... what, exactly?

That what you did in Mexico was a step too far. That you're finished.

James Bond

And what do you think?

I think you're just getting started.

James Bond

I don't know what you mean.

Fine. I think you've got a secret. And it's something you won't tell anyone because you don't trust anyone. [Bond switches on the TV, revealing a video message from the now-deceased previous M]

M

007, if anything happens to me for some reason, I need you to do something. Find a man called Marco Sciarra. Kill him... and don't miss the funeral.

Jesus! Where did you get it?

James Bond

From my mailbox, just after she died.

She was never short of surprises.

James Bond

She wasn't gonna let death get in the way of her job.

You can't really tell me that one man in the field can compete with all of this, running around out there with his license to kill.

M

Have you ever had to kill a man, Max? Have you? To pull that trigger, you have to be sure. Yes, you investigate, analyze, assess, target. And then you have to look him in the eye. And you make the call. And all the drones, bugs, cameras, transcripts, all the surveillance in the world can't tell you what to do next. A license to kill is also a license not to kill.

Go back and find M, NOW! We need them both. [hangs up and attempts to log in to MI6, only to find that his access has been denied and the Nine Eyes program's shutdown has been initiated]

M

Not a good feeling being watched, is it?

Don't tell me you're responsible for this.

M

No, but my quartermaster is. And he's extremely talented.

Oh, bravo. But in case you hadn't realized it, you two are out of a job. so you're trespassing.

M

I'm afraid you've got the wrong end of the stick, Max. We're going to stop this system going online, and then I'm going to bring you in.

On what grounds, exactly?

M

Poor taste in friends.

Take a look at the world. Chaos. Because people like you, paper-pushers and politicians, are too spineless to do what needs to be done. So I made an alliance to put the power where it should be, and now you want to throw it away for the sake of democracy, whatever the hell that is. How predictably moronic. But then, isn't that what M stands for? "Moron"?

M

And now we know what C stands for. [reveals that he has the bullets that C thought were in his gun] "Careless".