100+ Classic Quotes From The Godfather That Still Resonate Today

In the pantheon of cinematic masterpieces, few films have left as indelible a mark on popular culture as “The Godfather.”

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and based on Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name, this epic saga of crime, family, and power has not only captivated audiences for generations but has also bestowed upon the world some of the most iconic and thought-provoking quotes ever uttered on the silver screen.

“The Godfather” isn’t just a movie; it’s a cultural touchstone, a timeless exploration of morality, loyalty, and the complexities of human nature.

Within its frames, amidst the dark alleys of New York and the opulent estates of Hollywood, lie pearls of wisdom and insight, delivered with a gravitas that resonates long after the credits roll.

In this exploration of the inspirational quotes from “The Godfather,” we delve into the wisdom of Don Vito Corleone and his successors, reflecting on their words not merely as dialogue in a script, but as profound reflections on life, power, and the human condition.

These quotes have the power to inspire, to provoke thought, and to leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who encounter them.

Join us on this journey through the corridors of power and the streets of Little Italy as we uncover the timeless wisdom encapsulated in the unforgettable quotes of “The Godfather.”

100+ Classic Quotes From The Godfather That Still Resonate Today.

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I don’t like violence, Tom. I’m a businessman. Blood is a big expense.” – Sollozzo (Al Lettieri)
“Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I’m gonna take care of you. I’m with you now. I’m with you.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Mr. Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news immediately.” – Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)
“Women and children can afford to be careless, but not men.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family.” – Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)

These quotes are just a few examples of the memorable lines from “The Godfather” that have left an enduring impact on audiences around the world.

“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I don’t like violence, Tom. I’m a businessman. Blood is a big expense.” – Sollozzo (Al Lettieri)
“Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I’m gonna take care of you. I’m with you now. I’m with you.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Mr. Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news immediately.” – Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)
“Women and children can afford to be careless, but not men.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family.” – Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)
“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I don’t want my brother coming out of that toilet with just his dick in his hands.” – Sonny Corleone (James Caan)
“I’m German-Irish. We’re taught to sing when we’re drowning.” – Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)
“I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“You can act like a man!” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.” – Calo (Franco Citti)
“It’s an old habit. I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless, but not men.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Times have changed. It’s not like the Old Days, when we can do anything we want.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“We don’t discuss business at the table.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I’m going to take care of you now. I’m with you now. I’m with you.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“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 (Al Pacino)
“It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“A friend should always underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faults.” – Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)
“My father taught me many things here — he taught me in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I’m Moe Greene! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!” – Moe Greene (Alex Rocco)
“Do you renounce Satan?” – Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano)
“It’s an old habit. I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless, but not men.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“We’re all part of the same hypocrisy, Senator.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Don’t ever give up your family, Michael.” – Mama Corleone (Morgana King)
“You’re out, Tom.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“You can have my answer now if you like. My final offer is this: nothing.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Senator, we’re both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I don’t want anything to happen to him while my mother is alive.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“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 string held by all those big shots.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I trust these men with my life, Senator. To ask them to leave would be an insult.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Your enemies always get strong on what you leave behind.” – Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg)
“We’re both part of the same hypocrisy, Senator, but never think it applies to my family.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“It’s not easy to be a son, Fredo. It’s not easy.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)

These quotes, delivered by a range of characters from the film, encapsulate the essence of “The Godfather” and its exploration of power, loyalty, and family.

“I don’t apologize. That’s my life, but I thought that, that when it was your time, that you would be the one to hold the strings. Senator Corleone, Governor Corleone. Well, it wasn’t enough time, Michael. It wasn’t enough time.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Do me this favor. I won’t forget it. Ask your friends in the neighborhood about me. They’ll tell you I know how to return a favor.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“What is that, a course in Economics?” – Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano)
“I am gonna teach you to be a man. And part of being a man is knowing when not to be one.” – Santino ‘Sonny’ Corleone (James Caan)
“We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Barzini’s dead. So is Phillip Tattaglia. Moe Greene. Stracci. Cuneo. Today I settled all Family business so don’t tell me that you’re innocent. Admit what you did!” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“He was bangin’ cocktail waitresses two at a time! Players couldn’t get a drink at the table.” – Moe Greene (Alex Rocco)
“I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless, but not men.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Look how they massacred my boy.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“It’s strictly business.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I’m not gonna make it, Mike. I don’t want my brother coming out of that toilet with just his dick in his hands.” – Sonny Corleone (James Caan)
“We’re all part of the same hypocrisy, Senator.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“The lawyer with the briefcase can steal more money than the man with the gun.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“You can act like a man!” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.” – Peter Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano)
“It’s an old habit. I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can be careless, but not men.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.” – Calo (Franco Citti)
“Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“You cannot say ‘no’ to the people you love, not often. That’s the secret. And then when you do, it has to sound like a ‘yes’. Or you have to make them say ‘no’. You have to take time and trouble.” – Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall)
“The lawyer with the briefcase can steal more money than the man with the gun.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Senator, my offer is this: nothing. Not even the fee for the gaming license, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” – Peter Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano)
“I’m Moe Greene! I made my bones when you were going out with cheerleaders!” – Moe Greene (Alex Rocco)
“Do you renounce Satan?” – Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano)
“I trust these men with my life, Senator. To ask them to leave would be an insult.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Your enemies always get strong on what you leave behind.” – Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg)
“Senator, we’re both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“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 string held by all those big shots.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I trust these men with my life, Senator. To ask them to leave would be an insult.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“You’re out, Tom.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“You can have my answer now if you like. My final offer is this: nothing.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Senator, we’re both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I don’t want anything to happen to him while my mother is alive.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“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 string held by all those big shots.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I trust these men with my life, Senator. To ask them to leave would be an insult.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Your enemies always get strong on what you leave behind.” – Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg)
“Senator, we’re both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)

“I’m a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall Michael, if he should be 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 then I do not forgive.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” – Peter Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano)
“We are all honorable men here, we do not have to give each other assurances as if we were lawyers.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“You’re getting chased out of New York by Barzini and the other Families. And you think I’m the one who needs help?” – Moe Greene (Alex Rocco)
“It’s not what I wanted! It’s not what I wanted!” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Barzini is dead. So is Philip Tattaglia. Moe Greene. Stracci. Cuneo. Today I settled all Family business so don’t tell me that you’re innocent.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“You can act like a man!” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.” – Don Lucchesi (Enzo Robutti)
“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.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Tattaglia’s a pimp. He never could’ve outfought Santino. But I didn’t know until this day that it was Barzini all along.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Do you believe a man can become a king?” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I don’t feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Only don’t tell me that you’re innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and makes me very angry.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Friendship and money: oil and water.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“Someday, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“We must guard our interests, but the Tattaglias are known for their greed.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I am a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall Michael — if he should be shot in the head by a police officer or be found hung dead in a jail cell — or if he should be 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.” – Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I spent my whole life trying not to be careless.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Tom, don’t let anybody kid you. It’s all personal, every bit of business. Every piece of shit every man has to eat every day of his life is personal.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“The Corleone Family don’t even have that kind of muscle anymore.” – Sollozzo (Al Lettieri)
“Michael, we’re bigger than U.S. Steel.” – Fredo Corleone (John Cazale)
“I don’t apologize; that’s my life, but I thought that, that when it was your time that you would be the one to hold the strings.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don’t have men killed.” – Kay Adams (Diane Keaton)
“Today I settled all Family business.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“I never wanted this for you.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“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 (Al Pacino)
“In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.” – Calo (Franco Citti)
“You’ve got to get up close like this and – bada-bing! – you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit.” – Sonny Corleone (James Caan)
“A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Don’t tell me you’re innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and it makes me very angry.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“This is business, not personal.” – Sonny Corleone (James Caan)
“You are my son. But you are not a killer.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“Even shooting your father was business, not personal.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)
“It’s an old habit. I spent my whole life trying not to be careless.” – Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando)
“I want you to arrange a meeting with the heads of the Five Families. This war stops now.” – Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)