Table of contents
Updated June 4, 2025 |
Infoplease Staff
Dive into the best quotes from The Godfather Movies. We’re diving into the most memorable moments from the Godfather trilogy (The Godfather trilogy, Parts I (1972), II (1974), and III (1990)). These quotes feature the most memorable moments from the movies and reflect on all of the movie's themes of loyalty, betrayal, power, family ambition and wisdom.
Whether you are looking to rehearse these quotes as a Godfather movie enthusiast, or you're looking to create a game night trivia, you’ll be sure to relive the experience once again as if it were released for the first time.
The Godfather (1972) quotes
- “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – Vito Corleone
- “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” – Vito Corleone
- “It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.” – Michael Corleone
- “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” – Clemenza
- “Don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever.” – Michael Corleone
- “Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.” – Tessio
- “I never wanted this for you.” – Vito Corleone
- “You can act like a man! What’s the matter with you?” – Vito Corleone
- “Look how they massacred my boy.” – Vito Corleone
- “Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” – Michael Corleone (reused in Part III)
- “Tattaglia is a pimp. He never could've outfought Santino.” – Michael Corleone
- “What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully?” – Vito Corleone
- “A friend should always underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faults.” – Vito Corleone
- “Women and children can be careless, but not men.” – Vito Corleone
- “The Don is semi-retired.” – Tom Hagen
The Godfather Part II (1974) quotes
- “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” – Michael Corleone
- “If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone.” – Michael Corleone
- “Fredo, you’re my older brother, and I love you. But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again.” – Michael Corleone
- “I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart.” – Michael Corleone
- “This is the business we’ve chosen.” – Hyman Roth
- “I don’t trust a doctor who can hardly speak English.” – Michael Corleone
- “I take care of you, Fredo. I’m your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over!” – Fredo Corleone
- “Michael, we're bigger than U.S. Steel.” – Hyman Roth
- “Senator, we’re both part of the same hypocrisy.” – Michael Corleone
- “He’s been dying from the same heart attack for twenty years.” – Tom Hagen
- “You don’t make up for your sins in the church. You do it in the streets.” – Michael Corleone
- “Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don’t have men killed.” – Kay
- “Who's being naive, Kay?” – Michael Corleone
- “I put you at the head of the family because you're smart. Not because I love you.” – Michael Corleone
- “I ordered the hit on Fredo.” – Michael Corleone
The Godfather Part III (1990) quotes
- “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” – Michael Corleone
- “The only wealth in this world is children. More than all the money, power on Earth.” – Michael Corleone
- “All my life I kept trying to go up in society. The higher I go, the more crooked it becomes.” – Michael Corleone
- “Our true enemy has yet to reveal himself.” – Michael Corleone
- “Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.” – Don Lucchesi
- “Politics and crime — they’re the same thing.” – Michael Corleone
- “Power wears out those who don’t have it.” – Don Altobello
- “Your sins are terrible. It is just that you suffer.” – Cardinal Lamberto
- “I betrayed my wife. I betrayed myself. I killed my mother's son. I killed my father's son.” – Michael Corleone
- “I swear on the lives of my children, give me a chance to redeem myself.” – Michael Corleone
- “You became my horror.” – Kay Adams
- “I would burn in hell to keep you safe.” – Michael Corleone to Mary
- “Love someone else.” – Michael to Vincent
- “They made us look ridiculous. I want you to get their names.” – Michael Corleone
- “(Silent scream at the end — the loudest quote that was never spoken)” – Michael Corleone
