23 quotes
Gambling Confidence in Atlantic City
Vincent Mancini
You like to gamble? Why don't we go to Atlantic City? My town. I'll show you how to gamble.
Grace Hamilton
Yeah, but I like to win. How will I know what numbers to pick?
Vincent
Do I look like a guy who's gonna lose?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflicting Expressions of Love
Mary Corleone
I'll always love you.
Vincent Mancini
Love somebody else.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflections on Redemption and Honor
Michael Corleone
Goodbye, my old friend. You could have lived a little longer; I could be closer to my dream. You were so loved, Don Tommasino. Why was I so feared, and you so loved? What was it? I was no less honorable. I wanted to do good. What betrayed me? Was it my mind? My heart? Why do I condemn myself so? I swear on the lives of my children: Give me a chance to redeem myself, and I will sin no more.
[at Don Tommasino's funeral]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Power Struggles Within the Corleone Family
Michael Corleone
Don't ever again give that kind of order. Not while I'm alive. You understand?
[after learning of Zasa's assassination]
Vincent Mancini
Uncle Mike, it had to be done. You were too sick to make a decision. I got the go-ahead from Neri. I got the go-ahead from Connie.
Michael
Connie.
Vincent
It was the right thing to do.
Michael
It was the wrong thing to do. I command this family, right or wrong. It was not what I WANTED! Understand?
Vincent
Yes.
Al Neri
Yes.
Connie Corleone-Rizzi
Yes!
Michael
Vincent, help me to my bed. I want to talk to you alone. Your father, my brother...he and I. Opposites. But I never doubted his love. He would do anything for me. But his temper. It was too much. Clouded his judgement. I don't want to see the same thing happen to you.
[in his room]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Moment of Musical Distraction
Johnny Fontane
Michael, it's your favorite song! Where are you going?
Michael Corleone
I'm just gonna go into the kitchen and listen to some ] records.
[[w:Tony Bennett|Tony Bennett]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Strategic Decisions in Organized Crime
Michael Corleone
Joe Zasa would never pull something like this without backing. He doesn't have the wit for that helicopter attack. He doesn't even have the ambition to wipe out the whole Commission. Certainly not the balls.
Vincent Mancini
I say we hit back and take Zasa out!
Michael
Never let anyone know what you're thinking. All right, let's get a ... let's get a message to Joey Zasa. I respect what he's done. The new overthrows the old, it's natural.
[leaning to Vincent; to Vincent, Connie and Neri]
Vincent
How can you do business with this guy?
Michael
I'm a businessman, first and foremost. I want no conflict with anyone.
Vincent
Well, you can tell him from me that he can live or he can die.
Michael
Vincent, WILL YOU SHUT UP?!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Treachery and Control in The Godfather Part III
Don Altobello
Treachery is everywhere.
Michael Corleone
You still have your fingers on the strings, even now.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflections on Wisdom and Mortality
Michael Corleone
I feel... I'm getting wiser now.
Kay Adams-Corleone
The sicker you get, the wiser you get, huh?
Michael
When I'm dead, I'm gonna be really smart.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Price of Love and Vulnerability
Michael Corleone
When they come... they come at what you love.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Power Struggles Amidst Uncertainty of Leadership
Archbishop Gilday
The Pope is gravely ill. Until he recovers, I am powerless.
B.J. Harrison
What if he dies?
Frederick Keinszig
Then, as you Americans say, all bets are off.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Power of Finance and Politics
Vincent Mancini
Don Lucchesi, you are a man of finance and politics. These things I don't understand.
Don Lucchesi
You understand guns?
Vincent
Yes.
Don Lucchesi
Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Gangsters Discuss Reputation and Legitimacy
Michael Corleone
You all know Joey Zasa. He is, I admit, an important man. His picture is on the cover of the New York Times Magazine. He gets the Esquire Magazine award for the best dressed gangster. The newspapers praise him because he hires the blacks into his family, which shows he has a good heart. Who knows, maybe someday he will make all of you popular.
[the assembled Dons laugh]
Joey Zasa
It's true, I make more of a bella figura. That is my nature. But I also want to make a move into legitimate enterprises. I also want a pin from the Pope. Sure, I take the blacks and the Spanish into my family, because that's America.
[walks around the table]
Michael
And you guarantee that they don't deal the drugs in those neighborhoods?
Joey
I don't guarantee that. I guarantee that I'll kill anyone who does.
Don Altobello
Let me talk to him.
[to Michael, nervously]
Michael
Who can refuse Don Altobello?
Don Altobello
Joey...
Joey
No! I say to all of you that I have been treated this day with no respect! I've made you all money. And I asked for little. Good. You won't give, I'll take! As for Don Corleone, he has made it very clear today that he is my enemy! You must choose between us.
[angry]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Illusion of Greatness in Power
Michael Corleone
You could have helped me, Kay. You could have helped me to convince him.
Kay Adams-Corleone
Convince him of what?
Michael
He throws his life away. He throws greatness away.
Kay
This is greatness? You know, Michael, now that you're so respectable I think you're more dangerous than you ever were. In fact, I preferred you when you were just a common Mafia hood.
Michael
Alright, now can we talk common sense?
Kay
Alright.
Michael
Okay.
Kay
Tony knows you killed Fredo.
Michael
Why did you come here?
[beat, angry]
Kay
I came here to protect my son. I didn't come here to see you disguised by your church. I thought that was a shameful ceremony.
Michael
I spent my life protecting my son. I spent my life protecting my family-!
Kay
Let's be reasonable here, Michael. I mean, that's your big thing, isn't it? Reason...backed up by murder.
Michael
Oh, God... God, you hate me. You hate me.
Kay
No, I don't hate you, Michael. I dread you.
Michael
I did what I could...to protect...all of you from the horrors of the world.
Kay
But you became my horror.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Lingering Memories of Past Relationships
Michael Corleone
I spent a lot of time in this room, thinking of you.
Kay Adams-Corleone
And then you got married.
Michael
I still thought of you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Risks of Honesty in Power
B.J. Harrison
The Pope's doing exactly what you said he'd do, he's cleaning house.
[about the newly ordained [[Pope John Paul I]
Michael Corleone
He should be careful. It's dangerous to be an honest man.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Nature of Real Power
Taglines
Real power can't be given. It must be taken.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Shift in Legacy and Loyalty
Vincent Mancini
I am your son. Command me in all things.
Michael Corleone
Give up my daughter. It's the price you pay for the life you choose.
Vincent
Done.
Michael
Nephew, from this moment, call yourself Vincent Corleone.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Seeking Forgiveness in Complex Relationships
Michael Corleone
I want you to forgive me.
Kay Adams-Corleone
For what?
Michael
Everything.
Kay
Like God, huh?
Michael
I need something a little closer. You could never understand, back in those days. I loved my father. I swore I would never be a man like him, but I loved him, and he was in danger. What could I do? Then, later, you were in danger, our children were in danger. What could I do? You were all I loved and valued in the world, and now I'm losing you — I've lost you anyway, and it was all for nothing, so... You have to understand, I had a whole different destiny planned. Alright, I'll stop.
Kay
I really don't know what you want from me, Michael. I really don't know.
[crying]
Michael
I'm not the man you think I am.
Kay
I just don't know...
Michael
I love you, Kay. You know, every night here in Sicily, I dream of my wife and my children, and how I lost them.
Kay
I guess, if it's any consolation, Michael... I want you to know that I've always loved you, and... and I always will.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reluctance to Leave the Past Behind
Michael Corleone
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Power Struggles and Miscommunication
Michael Corleone
You had a gun. They only had a knife. You could have talked them into surrendering. Turned them over to the police.
Vincent Mancini
Hey, Uncle Mike, Zasa sent these guys I was just sending him a message that's all.
Michael
Now he has to send you a message back.
Vincent
Joey Zasa's gonna send me a message? Joey Zasa's gonna send me a message?
Connie Corleone-Rizzi
Michael, he did the right thing. He got Zasa's name.
Michael
What's Joey Zasa got to do this this? Joey Zasa's a patso. Joey Zasa. Alright, you are what you are. It's in your nature. From now on you stick close to me. You don't go anywhere, you don't do anything, you don't talk to anyone without checking with me first, understand?
Vincent
Yeah.
Michael
I've got problems with the commission, young man!
Vincent
Yeah, I know.
Michael
You don't make them any easier.
Vincent
I know.
Michael
Alright, go on. Get out of here.
Connie
Michael.
Michael
Yes.
Connie
Now they'll fear you.
Michael
Maybe they should fear you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Power and Destiny in The Godfather Part III
Taglines
All the power on earth can't change destiny.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Conversation on Redemption and Confession
Cardinal Lamberto
Would you like to make your confession?
Michael Corleone
Your eminence, I'm— It's been so long. I wouldn't know where to— It's been 30 years. I'd use up too much of your time, I think.
Lamberto
I always have time to save souls.
Michael
Oh, I'm beyond redemption.
Lamberto
I hear the confessions of my own priests here. Sometimes the desire to confess is overwhelming, and we must seize the moment.
Michael
What is the point of confessing if I don't repent?
Lamberto
I hear you are a practical man. What have you got to lose, huh? Go on.
Michael
I— I betrayed my wife.
Lamberto
Go on, my son.
Michael
I betrayed myself. I killed men, and I ordered men to be killed.
Lamberto
Go on, my son. Go on.
Michael
Ah, it's useless.
Lamberto
Go on, my son.
Michael
I killed— I ordered the death of my brother. He injured me. I killed my mother's son. I killed my father's son!
[choking up; sobbing]
Lamberto
Your sins are terrible, and it is just that you suffer. Your life could be redeemed, but I know you do not believe that. You will not change. Ego te absolvo in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Danger of Hatred in Business Decisions
Vincent Mancini
I'd like to take Joey Zasa up in one of these and drop him.
[in a helicopter]
Michael Corleone
Joey Zasa is nothing. He's a small-time enforcer. He bluffs, he threatens, but nothing. You can see him coming a mile away.
Vincent
We should kill him before he kills...
Michael
No! Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.