The Best 'Goodfellas' Quotes, Ranked

Updated October 27, 2023 120.7K views 14 items

Ranked By

1.5K votes

674 voters

Movie fans everywhere have come together to vote on this list of the best Goodfellas movie quotes. Martin Scorsese's iconic crime drama has given us some of the most memorable lines in cinema history, from "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster" to "Funny how? Like a clown? Do I amuse you?" But which ones are the absolute best?

To make it onto this list, each quote had to embody the essence of Goodfellas: its wit, its violence, and its unapologetic portrayal of life in organized crime. These quotes aren't just words on a page; they're moments that define characters and shape our understanding of their world.

From Henry Hill's rise through the ranks to Jimmy Conway's ruthless schemes, every character in Goodfellas is defined by their dialogue. And with so many great lines to choose from, it was no easy feat for voters to narrow down their favorites.

So whether you're a die-hard fan or new to the world of Goodfellas, get ready for a journey through some of cinema's most unforgettable moments. And don't forget: if your favorite quote isn't on this list, be sure to vote it up and let your voice be heard.

1
140 votes
Never rat on your friends.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY
Jimmy Conway: I'm not mad, I'm proud of you. You took your first pinch like a man and you learn two great things in your life. Look at me, never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.
2
203 votes
I amuse you?
Video: YouTube
Tommy DeVito: Oh, oh, Anthony. He's a big boy, he knows what he said. What did ya say? Funny how?
Henry Hill: Jus...
Tommy DeVito: What?
Henry Hill: Just... ya know... you're funny.
Tommy DeVito: You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little f**ked up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to f**kin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?
3
130 votes
Grab your shinebox.
Video: YouTube
Tommy DeVito: Just don't go busting my balls, Billy, okay?
Billy Batts: Hey, Tommy, if I was gonna break your balls, I'd tell you to go home and get your shine box.
Billy Batts: Now this kid, this kid was great. They, they used to call him Spitshine Tommy.
4
77 votes
Spider's got balls.
Photo: Metaweb / GNU Free Documentation License
Spider: Why don't you go f**k yourself, Tommy?
Jimmy Conway: Whoa! Can't believe what I just heard. Hey Spider, here. This is for you.
Jimmy Conway: Attaboy! I got respect for this kid. He's got a lot of f**king balls. Good for you! Don't take no s**t off nobody.
5
74 votes
If we wanted something, we took it.
Henry Hill: For us to live any other way was nuts. Uh, to us, those goody-good people who worked s**tty jobs for bum paychecks and took the subway to work every day, and worried about their bills, were dead. I mean they were suckers. They had no balls. If we wanted something we just took it. If anyone complained twice they got hit so bad, believe me, they never complained again
6
72 votes
Jimmy Two Times
Henry Hill: And then there was Jimmy Two Times, who got that nickname because he said everything twice, like:
Jimmy Two Times: I'm gonna go get the papers, get the papers.
7
53 votes
It's a joke
Tommy DeVito: What the f**k you looking at? Come on. Make that coffee to go. Let's go.
Tommy DeVito: What the f**k are you doing? It's a joke! A joke! Put the f**king pot down!
8
37 votes
No coward
Henry Hill: It was revenge for Billy Batts, and a lot of other things. And there was nothing that we could do about it. Batts was a made man, and Tommy wasn't. And we had to sit still and take it. It was among the Italians. It was real greaseball s**t. They even shot Tommy in the face so his mother couldn't give him an open coffin at the funeral.
9
43 votes
I thought I was dead
Henry Hill: For a second I thought I was dead. But, when I heard all the noise, I knew they were cops. Only cops talk that way. If they'd been wiseguys, I wouldn't have heard a thing. I would've been dead.
10
50 votes
I love the man with guns
Karen: I know there are women, like my best friends, who would have gotten out of there the minute their boyfriend gave them a gun to hide. But I didn't. I got to admit the truth. It turned me on.

11
50 votes
Don't be judgemental
Photo: Metaweb / CC-BY
Tommy DeVito: In this day and age, what the f**k is this world coming to? I can't believe this, prejudice against - a Jew broad - prejudice against Italians.
12
31 votes
First hit
Henry Hill: Jimmy had never asked me to whack somebody before - but now he's asking me to go down to Florida and do a hit with Anthony? That's when I knew I would never have come back from Florida alive.
13
34 votes
Am i crazy
Sonny Bunz: But I'm worried, I mean, I'm hearin' all kinds a f**kin' bad things. I mean he's treating me like I'm a f**kin' half-a-f*g or somethin'. I'm gonna wind up a lammist, I gotta go on the f**kin' lam in order to get away from this guy? This ain't right, Paulie.
14
35 votes
Stop with the drugs.
Video: YouTube
Henry Hill: I only bought the damn guns because he wanted them and now he didn't want them.
Jimmy Conway: What the f**k are these? None of them fit. What's the matter with you? What, do you want me to pay for this s**t? I'm not paying for it!
Henry Hill: I didn't say a thing. He was so pissed off, he didn't even say goodbye.
Jimmy Conway: Stop with those f**king drugs. They're making your mind into mush. You hear me? Take'em back!