The Godfather is one of the best movies ever made in the history of cinema, and is also one of the few literary adaptations which stood up to, and even exceeded, the expectations of viewers and critics. Marlon Brando’s career-best performance as Don Corleone was conceived by Francis Ford Coppola as a nuanced, principled mafia lord who is not needlessly ruthless and, in fact, is more conscientious than most gangsters, especially as traditionally depicted in the media.
The 1972 films also featured some of the most memorable lines in Hollywood; some of these quotes have been written down by Mario Puzo in his novels, but some of the great dialogue in The Godfather was actually improvised. Lines like “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse,” or “Revenge is a dish best served cold," are hugely publicized. But there are some other stunning quotes from The Godfather which really need to be talked about. Here are 10 such quotes.
10 Virgil Solozzo: "Blood Is A Big Expense."
Some of the best lines in The Godfather were spoken by the Godfather’s arch-rival, Virgil Solozzo, who was in the narcotics trade and later aligned with the Tattaglia family to seek vengeance on the Corleones. Since Don Corleone abhors the drug trade he declines Solozzo’s offer to do business together.
“I don't like violence, Tom. I'm a businessman. Blood is a big expense,” Solozzo tells Tom Hagen, the family’s consigliere. The statement stands true for Solozzo who was not initially looking to incite violence upon the Corleones but was deeply offended by the Godfather’s refusal.
9 Bonasera: "I Believe in America."
The opening line of The Godfather is one of the most haunting openings in the history of cinema. The line is spoken by a man named Bonasera who seeks justice from the Godfather after his daughter was brutalized by some men.
Francis Ford Coppola had once revealed that the opening line is indicative of the fact that the Godfather is quite literally a stand-in for the protection your country and your government should offer to you, but cannot. It basically implies that the Godfather can do for you what your trusted establishments cannot.
8 Don Corleone: "I Worked My Whole Life, I Don't Apologize, To Take Care Of My Family."
This is one of Don Corleone’s most consistent philosophies and something that has also seeped into the way he runs his empire. The Godfather has always been a family man and puts his family members above everyone else. This also takes a toll on many of his decisions.
In fact, though Corleone is a careful and tactful man and very conscious about who he goes up against, when it comes to defending his loved ones he tends to get sentimental and overly emotional, such as how he settled the matter involving Johnny Fontane by teaching his producer a deadly lesson.
7 Peter Clemenza: "Leave The Gun. Take The Cannoli."
This was one of the most dynamic sequences in The Godfather and was actually improvised on the spot. It was revealed by Richard Castellano’s (who played Clemenza) wife that the script and the novel only had Clemenza saying “Leave the gun.”
He tells this to his new protégé Rocco after the latter shoots Paulie inside the car; Castellano improvised "Take the cannoli," on his wife’s suggestion because it made him come across as more sinister and dispassionate when it came to murder because he treats it just like any other job.
6 Don Corleone: "A Lawyer With A Briefcase Can Steal More Money Than Men With Guns."
This line spoken by the Godfather is completely in sync with how he feels about the white-collar crowd and stands true in his world. It also goes to show that each of his actions, be it violent or otherwise, are never conceived as an act of hate or greed.
Don Corleone only commits crimes he can justify in his own court, and at the core of each of his actions, there is a principle involved. Also, he is aware that the real world does not always work in the same manner as he does, and notions of power, ambition, and wealth are the only ruling factors when it comes to pillars of the system, be it in law or anywhere else.
5 Don Corleone: "They Talk When They Should Listen."
The Godfather had a very different parenting style and he never humiliated his children or even his other family members in front of other people because he himself admits that he is too sentimental when it comes to his family. Don Corleone spoke these words to talk about his older son, Sonny, when he questioned his father’s refusal to work with Virgil Solozzo, in front of several other people.
The whole dialogue was, “I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen.” Sonny was by far the most unruly of the Godfather’s children; he was brash and thoughtless, unlike Michael, and Don Corleone often had trouble getting through to Sonny.
4 Michael Corleone: "Don't Ever Take Sides Against Someone From The Family Again. Ever."
Fredo Corleone should really have brushed up on the "Guide to Navigate Life as a Corleone." Michael Corleone resembles his father in many ways. Thus, naturally, when he comes into power, he practices a lot of his father’s philosophies.
One of Don Corleone's most prolific doctrines advocated unconditional loyalty toward one's family, especially when it came to dealing with outsiders. So, when Fredo is outraged that Michael would come to Vegas and antagonize someone as powerful as Moe Greene, Michael straightens out his older brother by reiterating what their father had always believed.
3 Don Corleone: "Time Erodes Gratitude More Quickly Than It Does Beauty."
The currency of gratitude is something that is invaluable to Don Corleone; even from the most distant of his friends, he expects a degree of loyalty and gratefulness, especially if he has helped them out. One of the reasons why he does not charge a huge amount of money for his "favors" is because he expects those he helps to be in his debt, so he can call on them when he may need a favor.
He is also very aware that he cannot expect most people to be grateful to him for the rest of their lives and in the real world, people do not value gratitude as highly as he does.
2 Don Corleone: "Great Men Are Not Born Great, They Grow Great."
This is a line that is not just spoken by the Godfather but it is also actualized in the novel and the film through his personal narrative. The Godfather is, in many ways, the metaphor for the American Dream because he came from nothing to establish a thriving empire and had actually reached a position where he could protect those he called his own.
Don Corleone genuinely believed that it did not matter where someone is born because they can learn and grow to become great men. Interestingly, Michael Corleone did not have to struggle as much as his father did because, by the time he was born, Don Corleone had already started rising in the ranks of power.
1 Don Corleone: "I Spent My Life Trying Not To Be Careless."
This line actually brings out the difference between the Godfather and other mafia lords or even pop culture’s most vicious villains. A man in his position who has the politicians and law in his pocket can certainly get away with quite a lot.
While Don Corleone does make the most of his privileges, he only ever gives his nod to something egregious if he has to protect someone or he feels that he has to deliver justice. All of his crimes are very carefully conceived so as to not cause harm to innocent civilians.
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