The Godfather Quotes

Vito How did things ever get so far? I don't know. It was so unfortunate, so unnecessary. Tattaglia lost a son and I lost a son. We're quits, and if Tattaglia agrees, then I'm willing to let things go on the way they were before.

Barzini We're all grateful to Don Corleone for calling this meeting. We all know him as a man of his word. A modest man who will always listen to reason.

Tattaglia Yes, Barzini, he is too modest. He had all the judges and politicians in his pocket, and refused to share them.

Vito When? When did I ever refuse an accommodation? All of you know me here. When did I ever refuse, except one time? And why? Because I believe this drug business is gonna destroy us in the years to come. I mean, it's not like gambling or liquor, even women, which is something that most people want nowadays and it's forbidden to them by the ] in the church. Even the police departments have helped us in the past with gambling and other things. They're gonna refuse to help us when it comes to narcotics. And I believed that then, and I believe that now.

Barzini Times have changed. It's not like the old days when we could do anything we want. A refusal is not the act of a friend. Don Corleone had all the judges and the politicians in New York, and he must share them. He must let us draw the water from the well. Certainly, he can present a bill for such services. After all, we are not ]!

Zaluchi I also don't believe in drugs. For years I paid my people extra so they wouldn't do that kind of business. Somebody comes to them and says, "I have powders. If you put up three, four thousand dollar investment, we can make fifty thousand distributing." So they can't resist. I want to control it as a business, to keep it respectable. I don't want it near schools! I don't want it sold to children! That's an infamia. In my city, we would keep the traffic in the ], the coloreds. They're animals anyway, so let them lose their souls.

Vito I hoped that we would come here and reason together. And as a reasonable man, I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to find a peaceful solution to these problems.

Barzini Then we are agreed. The traffic in drugs will be permitted, but controlled, and Don Corleone will give us protection in the east, and there will be the peace.

Tattaglia But I must have strict assurance from Corleone. As time goes by and his position becomes stronger, will he attempt any individual vendetta?

Barzini Look, we are all reasonable men here. We don't have to give assurances as if we were lawyers.

Vito You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance going to bring your son back to you or my boy to me? I forgo the vengeance on my son. But I have selfish reasons. My youngest son was forced to leave this country because of all this Sollozzo business. All right. And I have to make arrangements to bring him back here safely, cleared of all these false charges. But I'm a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall him—if he should get shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's struck by a bolt of lightning—then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room. And that I do not forgive. But that aside, let me say that I swear on the souls of my grandchildren that I will not be the one to break the peace that we have made here today.

Michael They wanna have a meeting with me, right? It will be me, McCluskey and Sollozzo. Let's set the meeting. Get our informers to find out where it's gonna be held. Now, we insist it's a public place: a bar, a restaurant, some place where there's people so I feel safe. They're gonna search me when I first meet them, right? So I can't have a weapon on me then. But if Clemenza can figure a way, to have a weapon planted there for me, then I'll kill em both.

Sonny Hey, what are ya gonna do, nice college boy, eh? Didn't want to get mixed up in the family business huh? Now you wanna gun down a police captain. Why? Because he slapped you in the face a little bit? Hah? What do you think this is, the Army where you shoot em a mile away? You've gotta get up close like this and bada-bing! You blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit. You're taking this very personal. Tom, this is business and this man is taking it very, very personally.

Michael Where does it say that you can't kill a cop?

Tom Come on, Mikey.

Michael Tom, wait a minute. I'm talking about a cop that's mixed up in drugs. I'm talking about a dishonest cop, a crooked cop who got mixed up in the rackets and got what was coming. That's a terrific story, and we have newspaper people on the payroll. Don't we, Tom? They might like a story like that.

Tom They might. They just might.

Michael It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business.

Vitelli Did you have a good hunt?

Fabrizio You know all the girls around here? We saw some real beauties. One of them struck our friend like a thunderbolt. She would tempt the devil himself. Really put together. Such hair, such mouth!

Vitelli The girls around here are beautiful but virtuous.

Fabrizio This one had a purple dress and a purple ribbon in her hair. A type more Greek than Italian. Do you know her?

Vitelli No! There's no girl like that in his town!

Fabrizio My God, I understand!

Michael What's wrong?

Fabrizio Let's go. It's his daughter.

Michael Tell him to come here.

Fabrizio You don't understand. It's his daughter!

Michael Call him. Fabrizio, translate for me. I apologize if I offended you. I'm a stranger in this country and I meant no disrespect, to you or your daughter.

Vitelli Who is this? He sounds American.

Michael I'm an American hiding in Sicily. My name is Michael Corleone. There are people who'd pay a lot of money for that information, but then your daughter would lose a father...instead of gaining a husband. I want to meet your daughter with your permission and under the supervision of your family with all respect.

Vitelli Come to my house Sunday morning. My name is Vitelli.

Vitelli Apollonia.

Michael Bene.

Vito Corleone I want you to use all your powers, and all your skills. I don't want his mother to see him this way. Look how they massacred my boy!

Tom When I meet with the Tattaglia people, should I insist that all his drug middlemen have clean records?

Vito Mention it. Don't insist. Barzini is a man who'll know that without being told.

Tom You mean Tattaglia?

Vito Tattaglia's a pimp. He never could've outfought Santino, but I didn't know until this day that it was Barzini all along.

Peter Clemenza Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

Vito Corleone I spent my life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless, but not men.

Johnny A month ago, he bought the movie rights to this book, a best-seller, and the main character, it's a guy just like me. I, uh, I wouldn't even have to act, just be myself. Oh, Godfather, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do.

Vito You can act like a man! What's the matter with you? Is this how you turned out, a Hollywood finocchio that cries like a woman? "Eheheh! What can I do? What can I do?" What is that nonsense? Ridiculous. You spend time with your family?

Johnny Sure I do.

Vito Good, because a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man. Come here. You look terrible. I want you to eat. I want you to rest a while, and in a month from now, this Hollywood bigshot's gonna give you what you want.

Johnny It's too late, they start shooting in a week.

Vito I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse. Now, you just go outside and enjoy yourself, and, uh, forget about all this nonsense. I want you, I want you to leave it all to me.

Peter Clemenza Leave the gun. Take the Cannoli.

Vito I knew that Santino was gonna have to go through all this, and Fredo, well, Fredo was...but I never - I never wanted this for you. I worked my whole life - I don't apologize - to take care of my family. And I refused to be a fool dancing on a string held by all of those big shots. I don't apologize. That's my life, but I thought that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator Corleone. Governor Corleone. Something.

Michael Another pezzonovante.

Vito Well, there wasn't enough time, Michael. Wasn't enough time.

Michael We'll get there, Pop. We'll get there.

Michael Corleone My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.

Kay Adams Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don't have men killed.

Michael Corleone Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?

Michael You have to answer for Santino, Carlo.

Carlo Mike, you've got it all wrong!

Michael You fingered Sonny for the Barzini people. Ah, that little farce you played with my sister. Did you think that would fool a Corleone?

Carlo Mike, I'm innocent. I swear on my kids. Please don't do this to me, Mike.

Michael Sit down.

Carlo Please don't do this. Please.

Michael Barzini's dead. So is Phillip Tattaglia, Moe Greene, Stracci, Cuneo. Today, I settle all family business, so don't tell me you're innocent, Carlo. Admit what you did. Get him a drink. Come on. Don't be afraid, Carlo. Come on. You think I'd make my sister a widow? I'm Godfather to your son, Carlo. Go ahead, drink. Drink. No, Carlo, you're out of the family business, that's your punishment. We're finished. I'm putting you on a plane to Vegas. Tom? I want you to stay there, understand? Only, don't tell me you're innocent, because it insults my intelligence. It makes me very angry. Now who approached you: Tattaglia or Barzini?

Carlo It was Barzini.

Michael Good. There's a car waiting for you outside, it'll take you to the airport. I'll call your wife and tell her what flight you're on.

Carlo Mike, it was-

Michael Go on, get out of my sight.

Clemenza Hello, Carlo.

Moe What do you think is going on here? You think you can come here to my hotel and take over? I talked to Barzini. I can make a deal with him and still keep my hotel.

Michael Is that why you slapped my brother around in public?

Fredo Ah, now that was was nothing, Mike! Now, now Moe didn't mean nothing by that. Sure, he flies off the handle once in a while but Moe and me are good friends. Right, Moe?

Moe I got a business to run. I gotta kick asses sometimes to make it run right. We had a little argument, Freddy and I, so I had to straighten him out.

Michael You straightened my brother out?

Moe He was banging cocktail waitresses two at a time! Players couldn't get a drink at the table! What's the matter with you?

Michael I leave for New York tomorrow. Think about a price.

Moe Do you know who I am? I'm Moe Greene! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!

Fredo Wait a minute, Moe. Moe, I got an idea. Tom, you're the consiglieri and you can talk to the Don. You can explain—

Tom Now hold it right there. The Don is semi-retired and Mike is in charge of the family business now. If you have anything to say, say it to Michael.

Fredo Mike! You don't come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene like that!

Michael Fredo, you're my older brother and I love you, but don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again, ever.

Officer Phil Now hold still.

McCluskey I thought I got all you guinea hoods locked up! What the hell are you doing here?

Michael What happened to the men who were guarding my father, Captain?

McCluskey Why, you little punk! What the hell are you doing, telling me my business? I pulled them guys off of here! Now you get outta here, and stay away from this hospital!

Michael I'm not moving until you put some guards around my father's room.

McCluskey Phil, take him in!

Officer Phil The kid's clean, Captain! He's a war hero! He's never been busted for the rackets-

McCluskey Goddamn it, I said take him in!

Michael What's the Turk paying you to set up my father, Captain?

McCluskey Take a hold of him! Stand him up! Stand him up straight!

Don Corleone Listen, whoever comes to you with this Barzini meeting, he's the traitor. Don't forget that.

Tom This is business, not personal!

Sonny They shot my father. It's business, your ass!

Tom Even shooting your father was business, not personal, Sonny!

Michael She's hysterical. Hysterical.

Kay Michael, is it true?

Michael Don't ask me about my business, Kay.

Kay Is it true?

Michael Don't ask me about my business.

Kay No!

Michael Enough! All right, this one time. This one time, I'll let you ask me about my affairs.

Kay Is it true? Is it?

Michael No.

Kay I guess we both need a drink, huh? Come on.

Clemenza Don Corleone.

Vito I must say no to you, and I'll give you my reasons. It's true, I have a lot of friends in politics, but they wouldn't be friendly very long if they knew my business was drugs instead of gambling, which they regard as a – a harmless vice. But drugs is a dirty business. It makes, it doesn't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, understand. But your business is, uh, a little dangerous.

Sollozzo If you're worried about security for your million, the Tattaglias will guarantee it.

Sonny Oh, you're telling me that the Tattaglias guarantee our investment?

Vito Wait a minute. I have a sentimental weakness for my children, and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen. But anyway, Signor Sollozzo, my "no" is final and I wish to congratulate you on your new business. I know you'll do very well, and good luck to you, especially since your interests don't conflict with mine. Thank you. Santino, come here. What's the matter with you? I think your brain's going soft from all that comedy you're playing with that young girl. Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again.

Michael Well, when Johnny was first starting out, he was signed to this personal service contract with a big band leader. And as his career got better and better, he wanted to get out of it. Now, Johnny is my father's godson. And my father went to see this band leader, and he offered him $10,000 to let Johnny go. But the band leader said no. So the next day, my father went to see him, only this time with Luca Brasi. And within an hour, he signed a release, for a certified check for $1,000.

Kay How'd he do that?

Michael My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Kay What was that?

Michael Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract. That's a true story. That's my family, Kay. It's not me.

Sonny What the hell is this?

Tessio It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

Tessio I hope Mike can get us a good deal.

Tom I'm sure he will.

Cicci Sal, Tom? Boss says he'll come in a separate car. He says for you two to go on ahead.

Tessio Hell, he can't do that. It screws up all my arrangements!

Cicci Well, that's what he said.

Tom I can't go either, Sal.

Tessio Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him.

Tom He understands that.

Cicci Scuse me, Sal.

Tessio Tom, can you get me off the hook, for old time's sake?

Tom Can't do it, Sally.

Bonasera I believe in America. America has made my fortune, and I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom, but I taught her never to dishonor her family. She found a boyfriend, not an Italian. She went to the movies with him. She stayed out late. I didn't protest. Two months ago, he took her for a drive, with another boy friend. They made her drink whiskey and then they tried to take advantage of her. She resisted. She kept her honor, so they beat her like an animal. When I went to the hospital her nose was broken. Her jaw was shattered, held together by wire. She couldn't even weep because of the pain, but I wept. Why did I weep? She was the light of my life. A beautiful girl. Now she will never be beautiful again. Sorry. I went to the police, like a good American. These two boys were brought to trial. The judge sentenced them to three years in prison and suspended sentence. Suspended sentence! They went free that very day! I stood in the courtroom like a fool, and those two bastards, they smiled at me. Then I said to my wife, "For justice, we must go to Don Corleone.

Vito Why did you go to the police? Why didn't you come to me first?

Bonasera What do you want of me? Tell me anything, but do what I beg you to do.

Vito What is that?

Bonasera I want them dead.

Vito That I can't do.

Bonasera I will give you anything you ask.

Vito We've known each other many years, but this is the first time you ever came to me for counsel or for help. I can't remember the last time that you invited me to your house for a cup of coffee, even though my wife is godmother to your only child. But let's be frank here. You never wanted my friendship and, uh, you were afraid to be in my debt.

Bonasera I didn't want to get into trouble.

Vito I understand. You found paradise in America, you had a good trade, you made a good living, the police protected you, and there were courts of law. You didn't need a friend like me. But, now you come to me, and you say: "Don Corleone, give me justice." But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me Godfather. Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you ask me to do murder for money.

Bonasera I ask for justice.

Vito That is not justice. Your daughter is still alive.

Bonasera Let them suffer then, as she suffers. How much shall I pay you?

Vito Bonasera, Bonasera. What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? If you'd come to me in friendship, then that scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you.

Bonasera Be my friend, Godfather.

Vito Good. Someday - and that day may never come - I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this justice as a gift on my daughter's wedding day.

Bonasera Grazie, Godfather.

Vito Prego. Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all, we're not murderers, in spite of what this undertaker thinks.

Kay Adams Michael, you never told me you knew Johnny Fontane!

Michael Corleone Sure, you want to meet him?

Kay Adams Well, yeah! Sure.

Michael Corleone My father helped him with his career.

Kay Adams How did he do that?

Michael Corleone ...Let's listen to the song.

Kay Adams Tell me, Michael. Please.

Michael Corleone Well, when Johnny was first starting out, he was signed to a personal services contract with this big-band leader. And as his career got better and better, he wanted to get out of it. But the band leader wouldn't let him. Now, Johnny is my father's godson. So my father went to see this bandleader and offered him $10,000 to let Johnny go, but the bandleader said no. So the next day, my father went back, only this time with Luca Brasi. Within an hour, he had a signed release for a certified check of $1000.

Kay Adams How did he do that?

Michael Corleone My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Kay Adams What was that?

Michael Corleone Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract.

Kay Adams ...

Michael Corleone ...That's a true story.

Michael Corleone Where does it say that you can't kill a cop?

Tom Hagen Come on, Mikey...

Michael Corleone Tom, wait a minute. I'm talking about a cop that's mixed up in drugs. I'm talking about a - a - a dishonest cop - a crooked cop who got mixed up in the rackets and got what was coming to him. That's a terrific story. And we have newspaper people on the payroll, don't we, Tom? And they might like a story like that.

Tom Hagen They might, they just might.

Michael Corleone It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business.

Michael Corleone My credit good enough to buy you out?

Moe Greene Buy me out?

Michael Corleone The hotel, the casino. The Corleone Family wants to buy you out.

Moe Greene The Corleone Family wants to buy me out? No, I buy you out, you don't buy me out.

Don Corleone I hope you don't mind the way I keep going over this Barzini business.

Michael Corleone No, not at all.

Don Corleone It's an old habit. I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can afford to be careless, but not men.

Sollozzo Your boss is dead. I know you're not in the muscle-end of the family, Tom, so I don't want you to be scared. I want you to help the Corleones, and I want you to help me. Yeah, we got him outside his office just about an hour after we picked you up. Drink it. So now it's up to you to make the peace between me and Sonny. Sonny was hot for my idea, wasn't he? And you knew it was the right thing to do.

Tom Sonny'll come after you with everything he's got.

Sollozzo That'll be his first reaction, sure. That's why you gotta talk some sense into him. The Tattaglia family is behind me with all their people. The other New York families will go along with anything that will prevent a full-scale war. Let's face it, Tom, and all due respect, the Don, rest in peace, was slipping. Ten years ago, could I have gotten to him? Well, now, he's dead. He's dead, Tom, and nothing can bring him back, so you gotta talk to Sonny. You gotta talk to the caporegimes, that Tessio and that fat Clemenza. It's good business, Tom.

Tom I'll try, but even Sonny won't be able to call off Luca Brasi.

Sollozzo Yeah, well, let me worry about Luca. You just talk to Sonny and the other two kids.

Tom I'll do my best.

Sollozzo Good. Now, you can go. I don't like violence, Tom. I'm a business man. Blood is a big expense. He's still alive. They hit him with five shots, and he's still alive! Well, that's bad luck for me, and bad luck for you if you don't make that deal!

Clemenza This is as cold as they come, impossible to trace, so you don't worry about prints, Mike. I put a special tape on the trigger and the butt. Here, try it. What'sa matter? The trigger too tight?

Michael No. Ah, my ears.

Clemenza Yeah, I left it noisy. That way, it scares any pain-in-the-ass innocent bystanders away. All right, you shot em both. Now what do you do?

Michael Sit down, finish my dinner.

Clemenza Come on, kid. Don't fool around. Just let your hand drop to your side, and let the gun slip out. Everybody'll still think you got it. They're gonna be staring at your face, Mike, so walk out of the place real fast, but don't run. Don't look nobody directly in the eye, but you don't look away either. Eh, they're gonna be scared stiff of you, believe me, so don't worry about nothing. You know, you gonna turn out all right. You take a long vacation, nobody knows where, and we gonna catch the hell.

Michael How bad do you think it's gonna be?

Clemenza Pretty god-damn bad. Probably, all the other families will line up against us. That's all right. These things gotta happen every five years or so, ten years. Helps to get rid of the bad blood. Been ten years since the last one. You know, you gotta stop em at the beginning, like they shoulda stopped Hitler at Munich. They should never have let him get away with that. They was just asking for big trouble. You know, Mike, we was all proud of you, being a hero and all. Your father, too.

Michael I'm working for my father now. He's been sick, very sick.

Kay But you're not like him, Michael. I thought you weren't going to become a man like your father. That's what you told me.

Michael My father's no different than any other powerful man; any man who's responsible for other people, like a senator or a president.

Kay You know how naïve you sound?

Michael Why?

Kay Senators and presidents don't have men killed.

Michael Oh. Who's being naïve, Kay? Kay, my father's way of doing things is over, it's finished. Even he knows that. I mean, in five years, the Corleone family is going to be completely legitimate. Trust me. That's all I can tell you about my business.

Vito Give me a drop. My wife is crying upstairs. I hear cars coming to the house. Consigliere of mine, I think you should tell your Don what everyone seems to know.

Tom I didn't tell Mama anything. I was about to come up and wake you and tell you.

Vito But you needed a drink first.

Tom Yeah.

Vito Well, now you've had your drink.

Tom They shot Sonny on the causeway. He's dead.

Vito I want no inquiries made. I want no acts of vengeance. I want you to arrange a meeting with the heads of the Five Families. This war stops now.

Michael Corleone Only don't tell me you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and makes me very angry.

Fabrizio Mamma mia, what a beauty.

Fabrizio I think you got hit by the thunderbolt.

Calo In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.

Peter Clemenza Mikey, why don't you tell that nice girl you love her? I love you with all-a my heart, if I don't see-a you again soon, I'm-a gonna die.

Don Corleone I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.