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“Tom Hagen: Sollozzo is known as the Turk. He's supposed to be very good with a knife. But only in matters of business, or of some sort of reasonable complaint. His business is narcotics. He has the fields in Turkey, where they grow the poppy. In Sicily he has the plant to process it into heroin. He needs cash and he needs protection from the police for which he gives a piece of the action, I couldn't find out how much. The Tattaglia Family is behind him here in New York so they have to be in it for something.

Don Corleone: What about his prison record?

Tom Hagen: Two terms, one in Italy, and one here. He's known as a top narcotics man.

Don Corleone: Santino, what do you think?

Sonny: There's a lot of money in that white powder.

Don Corleone: Tom?

Tom Hagen: Well, I say yes. There is more money potential in narcotics than anything else we're looking at now. If we don't get into it, somebody else will, maybe one of the Five Families, maybe all of them. And with the money they earn they'll be able to buy more police and political power. Then they come after us. Right now we have the unions and we have the gambling and those are the best things to have. But narcotics is a thing of the future. If we don't get a piece of that action we risk everything we have. Not now, but ten years from now.

Sonny: Well, what's your answer gonna be, Pop?”
— Tom Hagen, The Godfather
Tagged: five families, prison record, Heroin, narcotics
“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? [Tom nods]

Michael Corleone: And they might like a story like that.

Tom Hagen: They might, they just might.

Michael Corleone: [to Sonny] It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business.”
— Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: cop killer, police corruption, Business, personal
“I have to get back to work. It's part of the wedding. No Sicilian can ever refuse a request on his daughter's wedding day.”
— Tom Hagen, The Godfather
Tagged: siclian, Wedding Day
“Don Corleone: Call Bonasera. We need him now. [Tom Hagen calls Amerigo Bonasera]

Tom Hagen: [on the phone] This is Tom Hagen, calling for Vito Corleone at his request. Now, you owe your Don a service. He has no doubt that you will repay him. In one hour he will be at your funeral parlor to ask for your help. Be there to greet him. [as ordered, a nervous Bonasera meets the Don at his parlor]

Don Corleone: Well, my friend, are you ready to do me this service?

Bonasera: Yes. What do you want me to do? [the two walk into the embalming room, where a corpse lies on a table... ]

Don Corleone: [staring at the table] I want you to use all your powers, and all your skills. I don't want his mother to see him this way. [he draws back the sheet to reveal, to a horrified Bonasera, the bullet-smashed face of Sonny Corleone...breaking down for a moment] Look how they massacred my boy...”
— Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Revenge, Massacre, Loss of a Child
“Sonny: Hey, listen, I want somebody good—and I mean very good—to plant that gun. I don't want my brother coming out of that toilet with just his dick in his hands, alright?

Clemenza: The gun'll be there.”
— Santino 'Sonny' Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Gun, dick
“[to Michael] Listen, whoever comes to you with this Barzini meeting, he's the traitor. Don't forget that.”
— Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Traitor, Warning
“[to the Don, quietly] Just lie here, Pop. I'll take care of you now. I'm with you now. I'm with you. [he takes the Don's hand and kisses it, the Don begins to cry]”
— Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Death, Crying
“Tom Hagen: When I meet with Tattaglia's men, should I insist all their drug middlemen have clean records?

Don Corleone: Mention it, don't insist. But Barzini will know that without being told.

Tom Hagen: You mean Tattaglia...

Don Corleone: Tattaglia is a pimp. He never could have outfought Santino. But I didn't know until this day that it was Barzini all along.”
— Tom Hagen, The Godfather
Tagged: Drugs, drug mules, Criminal Record, pimp
“[Clemenza prepares Michael for his meeting with Sollozzo]
Clemenza: [holding up a .22] It's as cold as they come, impossible to trace. So you don't have to worry about prints, Mike. I put a special tape on the trigger and the butt. Here, try it... [Michael takes the gun, but can't seem to fire it] What's the matter, trigger too tight? [With a loud bang, Michael finally discharges the gun]

Michael: Ow! My ears.

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

Michael: Sit down and finish my dinner.

Clemenza: Come on, kid, don't fool around. Just let your hand drop to your side and the gun slip out. Everyone will still think you've got it. They're gonna be staring at your face, Mike. So walk out of the place real fast, but you don't run. Don't look nobody directly in the eye, hut don't look away either. They're gonna be scared of you, believe me, so don't worry about nothing. [while talking, Clemenza takes the gun and begins working on it to fix the trigger] You know, Mike, you're gonna turn out all right. You take a long vacation, nobody knows where, and we'll catch the hell.

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

Clemenza: Pretty goddamned 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 them at the beginning. Like they should have stopped Hitler at Munich, they should never let him get away with that, they was just asking for trouble. [Clemenza now finishes working on the gun] You know, Mike, we was all proud of you being a hero and all. Your father too. [Clemenza hands the gun back to Michael]”
— Pete Clemenza, The Godfather
Tagged: Pride, Heroes, Guns, Murder, Hitler, Munich
“[at midnight, Don Corleone walks into his office and finds Tom Hagen taking a drink]
Don Corleone: Give me a drop. [Hagen hands the Don his glass of anisette] My wife is crying upstairs. I hear cars coming to the house. Consigliere of mine, I think it's time you told your Don what everyone seems to know.

Tom Hagen: I didn't tell Mama anything. I was just about to come up and wake you so that I could tell you.

Don Corleone: But you needed a drink first. [Hagen nods] And now you've had your drink.

Tom Hagen: They shot Sonny on the causeway. He's dead. [the Don accepts this news without any sign of emotion, except to close his eyes and remain silent for a few minutes]

Don Corleone: [speaking at last] 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.”
— Tom Hagen, The Godfather
Tagged: Murder, Vengeance, Drink
“Don Corleone: Oh, I want you to arrange to have a telephone man check all the calls going in and out of here because it could be anyone...

Michael: I did that already, Pop. I took care of that.

Don Corleone: Oh, that's right. I forgot.

Michael: What's the matter? What's bothering you? I'll handle it. I told you I can handle it, I'll handle it. [the Don rises as if to leave, but changes his mind midway and seats himself closer to Michael]

Don Corleone: I knew Santino was going to have to go through all this and Fredo... well, Fredo was... But I, I never wanted this for you. I work my whole life, I don't apologize, to take care of my family. And I refused to be a fool dancing on the strings held by all of those big shots. That's my life, I don't apologize for that. But I always 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.

Don Corleone: Well, there wasn't enough time, Michael. There just wasn't enough time.

Michael: We'll get there, Pop. We'll get there. [the Don kisses his son on the forehead]”
— Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Apologies
“[Michael sees a man dressed in black coming to Vito's hospital room]
Michael Corleone: Who are you?

Enzo the Baker: I am Enzo. The baker. Do you remember me?

Michael Corleone: Enzo...

Enzo the Baker: Yes, Enzo.

Michael Corleone: You better get out of here, Enzo, there's gonna be trouble.

Enzo the Baker: If there is trouble, I stay here to help you. For your father. For your father.”
— Enzo, the baker, The Godfather
Tagged: trouble
“[Sunday dinner at the Corleone home... ]
Sonny: Niggers havin' a real good time up in Harlem...

Carlo Rizzi: I knew that was going to happen as soon as they tasted the big money.

Connie: Papa never talked about business in front of the kids.

Carlo Rizzi: Shut up, Connie.

Sonny: Hey, don't you EVER tell her to shut up, you got that?

Mama Corleone: Santino, don't interfere. [Silence reigns around the table for a while]

Carlo Rizzi: Sonny, Tom, I'd like to talk to you after dinner. I think I can do a lot more for this family...

Sonny: We don't discuss business at the table.”
— Carlo Rizzi, The Godfather
Tagged: racism, Harlem, Business
“[Sonny pays a visit to his sister Connie. He is surprised to find her subdued and evasive]
Sonny: [surprised] What's the matter? Huh? What's the matter? [He looks at her swollen face and understands what has happened. He pulls away to go after Carlo... ]

Connie: [grabbing his shoulders] It was my fault!

Sonny: Where is he?

Connie: [weeping with terror] Sonny, please. Sonny, it was my fault. It was my fault. I started a fight with him. Please, Sonny... [Sonny, now under control, hushes her and kisses her forehead]

Sonny: Okay... I'm just going to get a doctor to come down and take a look at you.

Connie: Sonny, please don't do anything. Please don't do anything.

Sonny: What's the matter with you, huh? What am I going to do? Am I going to make that baby an orphan before he's born? [Connie gives a chuckle, and Sonny kisses her again and good-humoredly shrugs his soldiers]

Sonny: All right? [cut to Sonny beating up Carlo]”
— Santino 'Sonny' Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Fighting
“Women and children can afford to be careless, but not men.”
— Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: old habits, Women, Children, careless
“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 'boy friend,' 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. [He breaks down at this point, and the Don gestures to his son to get him a drink] Sorry... [He regains his composure and carries on] 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 the 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.'

Don Corleone: 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.

Don Corleone: What is that? [Bonasera gets up from his seat and whispers into the Don's ear; for a long moment the Don is silent]

Don Corleone: That I cannot do.

Bonasera: I will give you anything you ask!”
— Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Fortune, American Dream, Mafia, Domestic Violence
“You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance going to bring your son back to you? Or my boy to me?”
— Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Vengeance, Futility
“[Tessio brings in Luca Brasi's bulletproof vest, delivered with a fish inside]
Sonny: What the hell is this?

Clemenza: It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.”
— Santino 'Sonny' Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Sicilian, sleeps with the fishes, Murder
“[speaking to himself, practicing his speech] Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your home on the wedding day of your daughter. And may their first child be a masculine child.
[then, starting over]”
— Luca Brasi, The Godfather
Tagged: Gratitude, Honor, masculine, Wedding Day
“I don't like violence, Tom. I'm a businessman; blood is a big expense.”
— Sollozzo, The Godfather
Tagged: Violence, Blood, businessman
“Sollozzo: Bene, Don Corleone. I need a man who has powerful friends. I need a million dollars in cash. I need, Don Corleone, all of those politicians that you carry around in your pocket, like so many nickels and dimes.

Don Corleone: What is the interest for my family?

Sollozzo: Thirty percent. In the first year your end should be three, four million dollars. And then it would go up.

Don Corleone: And what is the interest for the Tattalgia family?

Sollozzo: [smiles at Tom] My compliments. [Hagen gives a formal nod]

Sollozzo: I'll take care of the Tattaglias, out of my share.

Don Corleone: So, I am to receive thirty percent for finance, for legal protection and political influence. Is that what you're telling me?

Sollozzo: That's right.

Don Corleone: Why come to me? What have I done to deserve such generosity?

Sollozzo: If you consider a million dollars in cash merely finance... [raises his glass]

Sollozzo: Te salut, Don Corleone. [the Don gets up to take a drink and sits closer to Sollozzo]

Don Corleone: I said that I would see you because I had heard that you were a serious man, to be treated with respect. But I must say no to you and let me give you my reasons. It's true I have a lot of friends in politics, but they wouldn't be so friendly if they knew my business was drugs instead of gambling which they consider a harmless vice. But drugs, that's a dirty business.

Sollozzo: No, Don Corleone...

Don Corleone: It makes no difference, it don't make any difference to me what a man does for a living, you understand. But your business is a little dangerous.

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

Sonny: Whoa, now, you're telling me that the Tattaglias guarantee our investment without...?

Don Corleone: Wait a minute. [the Don gives his son a cold stare, freezing Santino into silence. The others fidget with embarrassment at this outbreak, but Sollozzo looks slyly satisfied...dismissive] I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen. Anyway, Signor Sollozzo, my no to you is final. I want to congratulate you on your new business and I'm sure you'll do very well and good luck to you. Especially since your interests don't conflict with mine. Thank you. [Sollozzo leaves] Santino, come here. What's the matter with you? I think your brain is going soft with all that comedy you are playing with that young girl. Never tell anyone outside the Family what you are thinking again. Go on.”
— Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Finance, Mafia, dirty business, Conflict
“Tom Hagen: Mr. Corleone is Johnny Fontane's godfather. Now Italians regard that as a very close, a very sacred religious relationship.

Jack Woltz: Tell your boss he can ask for anything else, but this is one favor I can't grant him.

Tom Hagen: Mr. Corleone never asks a second favor once he's refused the first, understood?

Jack Woltz: You don't understand. Johnny Fontane never gets that movie. That part is perfect for him. It'll make him a big star. I'm gonna run him out of the movies. And let me tell you why. Johnny Fontane ruined one of Woltz International's most valuable proteges. For three years we had her under contract, singing lessons, dancing lessons, acting lessons. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars. I was gonna make her a big star. And let me be even more frank, just to show you that I'm not a hard-hearted man, that it's not all dollars and cents. She was beautiful! She was young, she was innocent. She was the greatest piece of ass I've ever had, and I've had 'em all over the world. And then Johnny Fontaine comes along with his olive oil voice and guinea charm and she runs off. She threw it all away just to make me look ridiculous. And a man in my position can't afford to be made to look ridiculous. Now you get the hell out of here! And if that goomba tries any rough stuff, you tell him I ain't no bandleader. Yeah, I heard that story.
[Hagen has been calmly eating his meal throughout Woltz's tirade]

Tom Hagen: Thank you for the dinner and a very pleasant evening. Have your car take me to the airport. Mr Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news at once.”
— Jack Woltz, The Godfather
Tagged: Godfather, Movie Statrs
“Michael: All right. This one time I'll let you ask me about my affairs.

Kay Adams: Is it true? Is it?

Michael: No. [Kay smiles and walks into his arms]

Kay Adams: I guess we both need a drink, huh? [Kay goes to the kitchen to fix a drink, but sees Peter Clemenza, Rocco Lampone, and Al Neri enter Michael's office]

Clemenza: Don Corleone. [Clemenza kisses Michael's hand, and Neri shuts the door in her face... ]”
— Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Drink, Affairs, Mafia
“Don Corleone: We have known each other many years, but this is the first time you've come to me for counsel or for help. I can't remember the last time 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 you feared to be in my debt.

Bonasera: I didn't want to get into trouble.

Don Corleone: 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. So you didn't need a friend like me. Now you come and 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.' 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 you for justice.

Don Corleone: That is not justice. Your daughter is alive.

Bonasera: Let them suffer then as she suffers. [the Don is silent] How much shall I pay you? [the Don turns away dismissively, but Bonasera stays on]

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

Bonasera: Be my friend... Godfather. [the Don at first shrugs, but upon hearing the title he lifts his hand, and a humbled Bonasera kisses the ring on it]

Don Corleone: Good. [He places his hand around Bonasera in a paternal gesture]

Don Corleone: Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, consider this justice a gift on my daughter's wedding day. [a gratified Bonasera offers his thanks and leaves...to Hagen] Give this job to Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. I mean, we're not murderers, in spite of what this undertaker thinks...”
— Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Coffee, trouble, Paradise, Mafia, Respect
“Michael: My credit good enough to buy you out?

Moe Greene: Buy me out? [Fredo laughs nervously]

Michael: 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.

Michael: Your casino loses money, maybe we can do better.

Moe Greene: You think I'm skimmin’ off the top, Mike?

Michael: [Michael shakes his head] You're unlucky.

Moe Greene: You goddamn guineas you really make me laugh. I do you a favor and take Freddie in when you're having a bad time, and now you're gonna try and push me out!

Michael: You took Freddie in because the Corleone Family bankrolled your casino, and the Molinari Family on the Coast guaranteed his safety. Now we're talking business, let's talk business.

Moe Greene: Yeah, let's talk business, Mike. First of all, you're all done. The Corleone Family don't even have that kind of muscle anymore. The Godfather's sick, right? You're getting chased out of New York by Barzini and the other Families. What do you think is going on here? You think you can come 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: Aw, now that, that was nothin', Mike. Moe didn't mean nothin' by that. Yeah, sure he flies off the handle every once in a while, but me and him, we're good friends, right Moe?

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

Michael: You straightened my brother out?

Moe Greene: 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 Greene: Sonofabitch! 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 Consigliere and you can talk to the Don, you can explain...

Tom Hagen: 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: [Moe Greene leaves] Mike! You do not 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.”
— Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Credit, buyouts, Mafia, casinos, Las Vegas, New York
“Kay Adams: Michael, you never told me you knew Johnny Fontane!

Michael: Sure, you want to meet him?

Kay Adams: Well, yeah! Sure.

Michael: My father helped him with his career.

Kay Adams: How did he do that?

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

Kay Adams: [after listening to Johnny for a while] Tell me, Michael. Please.

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

Kay Adams: 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.

Kay Adams: ...

Michael: ...That's a true story. [cut to Johnny singing again for about 10 more seconds before going back to Michael] That's my family, Kay, that's not me.”
— Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Singers, Mafia, bribes
“In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.”
— Calo, The Godfather
Tagged: Sicily, Women, danger, Shotguns
“Only don't tell me you're innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and makes me very angry.”
— Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: innocent, angry, insults my intelligence
“[to Rocco, who has killed Paulie in the car] Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
— Pete Clemenza, The Godfather
Tagged: Gun, Cannoli, Decisions
“Michael: 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: Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?”
— Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Tagged: Power, Senator, President, Naive

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This page was created by our editorial team. Each page is manually curated, researched, collected, and issued by our staff writers. Quotes contained on this page have been double checked for their citations, their accuracy and the impact it will have on our readers.

Kelly Peacock is an accomplished poet and social media expert based in Brooklyn, New York. Kelly has a Bachelor's degree in creative writing from Farieligh Dickinson University and has contributed to many literary and cultural publications. Kelly assists on a wide variety of quote inputting and social media functions for Quote Catalog. Visit her personal website here.

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