How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Because you've injured three men who will lose at least a month's wages between them. And something else that's infinitely more important."
"What's that?"
"The insult. An off-islander proved himself more than a match for not one, but three respected fishermen of Port Noir."
"Respected?"
"In the physical sense. Lamouche's crew is considered the roughest on the Waterfront."
"That's ridiculous."
"Not to them. It's their honor…" (2.116-122)
This is the first demonstration of Bourne's super awesome fighting skills:he beats up a bunch of fishermen. When Bourne says, "That's ridiculous," he might be saying that violence in the name of honor is wrong or silly. But Bourne could also mean: "It's ridiculous to think that those incompetent pushovers are considered the roughest crew on the waterfront." The second interpretation seems more likely in the context of the novel. The Bourne Identity doesn't have much of a problem with fighting—only with losing.
Quote #2
It was not professional, and if he had learned anything about himself during the past forty-eight hours it was that he was a professional. Of what he had no idea, but the status was not debatable. (4.42)
The word "professional" pops up throughout the novel. In this case, Bourne knows he's a professional before he knows what he's a professional of. The status of competence, and of being worthy of payment, is more important than the details.
Quote #3
Determined killers avoided taking the wrong life, not from compassion but for practicality; in any ensuing panic the real target might escape. (5.78)
The Bourne Identity loves throwing out practical tips for the cold-blooded killer. These tips are almost certainly nonsense—we doubt that Robert Ludlum has actually talked to many cold-blooded killers to find out how they roll. But so what? The novel is fun because it seems to know a whole lot of cold-blooded-killery, and also because we feel like we're being let in on hard-boiled, professional secrets, whether they're true or not.