Check out the best Sopranos quotes that capture the grit, wisdom, dark humor, and unforgettable drama of one of television’s greatest shows. From Tony Soprano’s hard-hitting lines to the sharp words of Carmela, Silvio, and Junior, these quotes reflect the themes of power, loyalty, family, and survival.
The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase that first premiered on HBO in 1999.
The series follows Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mob boss played brilliantly by James Gandolfini, who struggles to balance the pressures of running a criminal empire with his personal life and mental health.
What makes The Sopranos so iconic is its unique blend of crime drama, dark humor, and emotional depth.
Unlike typical gangster stories, the show delves into Tony’s vulnerabilities, exploring his therapy sessions with Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), family conflicts, and the constant battle between morality and survival.
Packed with sharp dialogue, larger-than-life moments, and unforgettable characters like Tony, Carmela (Edie Falco), and Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli), The Sopranos remains one of the greatest TV shows of all time.
Over six seasons and 86 episodes, The Sopranos won 21 Emmy Awards and 5 Golden Globes, leaving behind quotes and lines that fans still share decades later.
Here are the most famous Sopranos quotes that continue to inspire, entertain, and remind us why this series remains a timeless masterpiece.
Top 10 Sopranos Quotes
- “Sometimes we’re all hypocrites.” — Meadow Soprano
- “Those who want respect, give respect.” — Tony Soprano
- “You’re only as good as your last envelope.” — Silvio Dante
- “A wrong decision is better than indecision.” — Tony Soprano
- “Even a broken clock is right twice a day, right?” — Tony Soprano
- “People only see what you allow them to see.” — Dr. Jennifer Melfi
- “More is lost by indecision than wrong decision.” — Carmela Soprano
- “Some people take pleasure in the simple doing of things.” — Dr. Jennifer Melfi
- “Sometimes it’s important to give people the illusion of being in control.” — Tony Soprano
- “You steer the ship the best way you know. Sometimes it’s smooth. Sometimes you hit the rocks. In the meantime, you find your pleasures where you can.” — Corrado Soprano (“Junior”)
Best Sopranos Quotes
- “Our existence on this Earth is a puzzle.” — Carmela Soprano
- “If you can quote the rules, then you can obey them.” — Tony Soprano
- “I like people who don’t need everyone to like them.” — Tony Soprano
- “We bend more rules than the Catholic Church!” — Johnny Sacrimoni
- “It’s not a nursing home! It’s a retirement community.” — Tony Soprano
- “You ever feel like nothin’ good is ever going to happen to you?” — Christopher Moltisanti
- “Psychology doesn’t address the soul—that’s something else—but, this is a start.” — Carmela Soprano
- “Pours you a drink with one hand. Judges you with the other if you take it.” — Christopher Moltisanti
- “Some people are so far behind in the race that they actually believe they’re leading.” — Corrado Soprano
- “That’s how life is, I guess, sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. Things come, things go.” — Tony Soprano
- “In my thoughts, I used a technique of positive visualization. How come I always feel undermined?” — Christopher Moltisanti
- “Teddy Roosevelt once gave an entire speech with a bullet lodged in his chest. Some things are just a matter of duty.” — Junior Soprano
- “Other people’s definitions of you, sometimes they’re more about making themselves feel better. You gotta define yourself.” — Christopher Moltisanti
- “Someday soon, you’re going to have families of your own, and if you’re lucky, you’ll remember the little moments like this that were good.” — Tony Sopranos
- “Trees, ducks. What the f–k are you, Ranger Rick? I’ll tell you, some job you shrinks got! You think everybody is lying to you while you’re pulling scams on them!” — Tony Soprano
Famous Tony Soprano Quotes
- “All this from a slice of gabagool?” — Tony Soprano
- “There’s an old Italian saying: you f— up once, you lose two teeth.” — Tony Soprano
- “I’m like King Midas in reverse here. Everything I touch turns to shit.” — Tony Soprano
- “What kind of person can I be, where his own mother wants him dead?” — Tony Soprano
- “I find I have to be the sad clown: laughing on the outside, crying on the inside.” — Tony Soprano
- “A grown man made a wager. He lost. He made another one—he lost again. End of story.” — Tony Soprano
- “You know when I was depressed I said I didn’t want to live? Well, I’ll tell you something—I didn’t want to die.” — Tony Soprano
- “Is this a woman thing? You ask me how I’m feeling. I tell you how I’m feeling, and now you’re going to torture me with it.” — Tony Soprano
- “I don’t care how close you are: in the end, your friends are gonna let you down. Family. They’re the only ones you can depend on.” — Tony Soprano
- “We’re soldiers. Soldiers don’t go to hell. It’s war. Soldiers kill other soldiers. We’re in a situation where everyone involved knows the stakes and if you are going to accept those stakes, you’ve got to do certain things. It’s business.” — Tony Soprano
Paulie Walnuts Quotes From Sopranos
- “Whattaya hear? Whattaya say?” — Paulie Walnuts
- “That’s why dinosaurs don’t exist no more.” — Paulie Walnuts
- “Don’t touch that! My program’s coming on.” — Paulie Walnuts
- “You’re Santa Claus. So, shut the f–k up about it.” — Paulie Walnuts
- “She’s so fat, she goes campin’, the bears have to hide their food.” — Paulie Walnuts
- “Your mother was working the bonbon concession at the Eiffel Tower.” — Paulie Walnuts
- “When I was a kid, you two were old ladies. Now I’m old, and you two are still old.” — Paulie Walnuts
- “I was born, grew up, spent a few years in the Army, a few more in the can. And here I am. A half a wise guy. So what?” — Paulie Walnuts
- “Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. It gives a true picture of a company’s profitability.” — Paulie Walnuts
- “You add up all your mortal sins and multiply that number by 50. Then you add up all your venial sins and multiply that by 25. You add that together and that’s your sentence. I figure I’m gonna have to do 6,000 years before I get accepted into heaven and 6,000 years is nothin’ in eternity terms. I can do that standing on my head. It’s like a couple of days here.” — Paulie Walnuts
Livia Soprano Quotes
- “You want that lamp?” — Livia Soprano
- “I wish the Lord would take me now.” — Livia Soprano
- “She better not throw any artichokes at me.” — Livia Soprano
- “I will never speak another word to you again, Settimia.” — Livia Soprano
- “Daughters are better at taking care of their mothers than sons.” — Livia Soprano
- “I phoned your house. Some operator answered. I couldn’t understand a word she was saying.” — Livia Soprano
- “You know, somebody called here last night after dark… You think I’d answer? It was dark out!” — Livia Soprano
- “You know if I was that young lady, and you came and took me to that dance, and used that kinda talk, I’d slap your face!” — Livia Soprano
- “He goes to talk about his mother. That’s what he’s doing. He talks about me, he complains. ‘She didn’t do this, she did that.’ Oh, I gave my life to my children on a silver platter, and this is how he repays me.” — Livia Soprano
- “Depressed? My father came to this country with 17 cents in his pocket and never made a peep. What’s he got to be depressed about? Nobody threw him into the glue factory, and sold his house out from underneath him!” — Livia Soprano
Conclusion
What are your favorite Sopranos quotes and Sopranos sayings listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed, then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.
Feel free to share with friends and family on Facebook, Tumblr, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more to inspire and motivate them.