The Godfather 2 Quotes

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart.

Michael Corleone says hello.

It’s business, not personal.

Don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again.

Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.

I never wanted this for you. I worked my whole life, I don’t apologize, to take care of my family.

I don’t trust society to protect us. I have no intention of placing my fate in the hands of men whose only qualification is that they managed to con a block of people to vote for them.

My father taught me many things here – he taught me in this room. He taught me – keep your friends close but your enemies closer.

Never let anyone know what you are thinking.

Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.

In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns.

A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.

We are all honorable men here. We don’t have to give each other assurances as if we were lawyers.

Great men are not born great, they grow great.

Power corrupts those who lack it.

The higher I go, the crookeder it becomes.

Treachery is the inevitable result of all affairs.

There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

I’m here to talk about a Senate investigation. I’ve been in politics long enough to know that everything said in one of these hearings is admissible to the public, and I certainly don’t want these proceedings to be a reprisal for any actions I’ve taken.

I don’t trust society to protect us. I have no intention of placing my fate in the hands of men whose only qualification is that they managed to con a block of people to vote for them.

A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.

It was an abortion, Michael. It was only business.

I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen.

Times have changed. It’s not like the old days when we could do anything we wanted. A refusal is not the act of a friend.

I do not envy you. You are just like me.

You can do anything. But never go against the family.

Friendship is everything. It is the bread and wine of life. The rest is illusion.

If anything in this life is certain, if history teaches us anything, it is that you can kill anyone.

Don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family.

When they come, they’ll come at what you love.

Your father would want you to listen to me.

Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.

Never let anyone know what you are thinking.

You cannot say ‘no’ to the people you love, not often. That’s the secret. And then when you do, it has to sound like a ‘yes’. Or you have to make them say ‘no’. You have to take time and trouble.

I trust these men with my life, Senator. To ask them to leave would be an insult.

In my home, in my bedroom, where my wife sleeps, where my children come to play with their toys – and I hear the accusations of businessmen, of politicians and the commissioners of police – and whores like you…

Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don’t have men killed.

Times have changed.

It’s the smart way to run things. You don’t let anyone outside the family know what you’re thinking.

You have my word as a Corleone.

I never knew until this day that it was Barzini all along.

You talk about vengeance. Is vengeance gonna bring your son back to you, or my boy to me?

I spent my life protecting my son from his destiny.

I am sorry, Michael. I am sorry. I swear on the lives of my children. Give me one chance to redeem myself. And I will do so.

I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart.

Michael Corleone says hello!

We are all honorable men here, we don’t have to give assurances as if we were lawyers.

There never was a Fredo who wasn’t weak. But I’ve never wanted anything for him except for him to be happy.

When I’m dead, I want people to remember you are a good man, a fair man.