Check out the best Godfather quotes that capture power, loyalty, family, and the dark realities of ambition and control.
The Godfather is a 1972 legendary crime drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on Mario Puzo’s bestselling novel of the same name.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, it redefined the gangster genre and set a new standard for cinematic storytelling.
Starring Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone and Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, the film is celebrated for its unforgettable characters, powerful performances, and iconic dialogues.
Set in the world of organized crime, the film follows the Corleone family as they navigate loyalty, betrayal, honor, and violence in a world where every choice has a consequence.
At its heart is Don Vito Corleone, a powerful mafia boss who rules not just through fear, but through respect, strategy, and family values.
Through its timeless themes, The Godfather reveals how power is inherited, how loyalty is tested, and how ambition slowly reshapes identity—especially through the transformation of Michael Corleone.
The film’s success led to two acclaimed sequels, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III, and inspired generations of crime dramas, including influential series like The Sopranos.
Here are some of the most famous Godfather quotes that reveal profound truths about leadership, loyalty, power, and the high cost of control.
Top 10 Godfather Quotes
- “Power wears out those who do not have it.” – Calo, The Godfather
- “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Great men are not born great, they grow great.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “Don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “A friend should always underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faults.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Best Godfather Quotes
- “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” – Peter Clemenza, The Godfather
- “I don’t fear you Michael. I just dread you.” – Kay Corleone, The Godfather
- “Forgive. Forget. Life is full of misfortunes.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “It’s not personal, Sonny. It’s strictly business.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “I believe in America. America has made my fortune.” – Amerigo Bonasera, The Godfather
- “The richest man is the one with the most powerful friends.” – Don Altobello, The Godfather
- “Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.” – Don Lucchesi, The Godfather
- “Your enemies always get strong on what you leave behind.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “I have learned more from the streets than in any classroom.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “I respect those who tell me the truth no matter how hard it is.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “I trust these men with my life, Senator. To ask them to leave would be an insult.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “I don’t like violence, Tom. I’m a businessman. Blood is a big expense.” – Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, The Godfather
- “The lawyer with the briefcase can steal more money than the man with the gun.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Don’t tell me that you’re innocent. Because it insults my intelligence and it makes me very angry.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
The Godfather Quotes
- “In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.” – Calo, The Godfather
- “For justice, we must go to Don Corleone.” – Amerigo Bonasera, The Godfather
- “A man in my position can’t afford to look ridiculous.” – Jack Woltz, The Godfather
- “Now we’re talking business, let’s talk business.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “I’m your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over.” – Fredo Corleone, The Godfather
- “I’m not interested in things that don’t concern me.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Time erodes gratitude more quickly than it does beauty!” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “I want reliable people, people who aren’t going to be carried away.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “I want somebody good – and I mean very good- to plant that gun.” – Santino “Sonny” Corleone, The Godfather
- “You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance going to bring your son back to you? Or my boy to me?” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Famous Godfather Film Quotes
- “This war stops now.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “I hope their first child be a masculine child.” – Luca Brasi, The Godfather
- “Soldiers are paid to fight; the rebels aren’t.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “When they come… they come at what you love.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “If I wanted you dead, you would be dead already.” – Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, The Godfather
- “You’re getting a real reputation, Sonny! I hope you’re enjoying it!” – Tom Hagen, The Godfather
- “You think too much of me, kid. I am not that clever.” – Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, The Godfather
- “I refused to be a fool dancing on the strings held by all of those big shots.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Tell your boss he can ask for anything else, but this is one favor I can’t grant him.” – Jack Woltz, The Godfather
- “Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do a service for me.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
The Godfather Quotes About Family
- “That’s my family, Kay. It’s not me.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “She was the light of my life. A beautiful girl.” – Amerigo Bonasera, The Godfather
- “You can do anything but never go against the family.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Never tell anyone outside the Family what you are thinking again.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “My father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “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, The Godfather
- “And I raised my daughter in the American fashion. I gave her freedom, but I taught her never to dishonor her family.” – Amerigo Bonasera, The Godfather
- “Some people will pay a lot of money for that information; but then your daughter would lose a father, instead of gaining a husband.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “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 as a gift on my daughter’s wedding day.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
Iconic Godfather Movie Quotes
- “You have to take time and trouble.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “They should have stopped Hitler at Munich.” – Peter Clemenza, The Godfather
- “You know, Mike, you’re gonna turn out all right.” – Peter Clemenza, The Godfather
- “We don’t discuss business at the table.” – Santino “Sonny” Corleone, The Godfather
- “Women and children can be careless, but not men.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “I want you to use all your powers and all your skills.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Mr. Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news at once.” – Tom Hagen, The Godfather
- “Time erodes gratitude more quickly than it does beauty!” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “Never get angry. Never make a threat. Reason with people.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart. You broke my heart.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “Tom, this is business and this man is taking it very, very personal.” – Santino “Sonny” Corleone, The Godfather
- “I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.” – Michael Corleone, The Godfather
- “I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace we have made here today.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies then they would become my enemies… and then they will fear you.” – Don Vito Corleone, The Godfather
- “You don’t even think to call me Godfather. Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you ask me to do murder… for money.” – Don Corleone, The Godfather
Conclusion
What are your favorite Godfather quotes and Godfather sayings listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed, then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.
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