Michael Corleone quotes from The Godfather Part II (1974)

Michael Corleone

I don't feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies.

Michael Corleone

There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
Note: the bolded portion is ranked #58 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema. That portion has often been attributed to Sun Tzu and sometimes to Niccolò Machiavelli, but there are no published sources yet found which predate its use in this film. There is, however,an Italian proverb that follows closely: "Dai nemici mi guardo io dagli amici mi guardi iddio!" – I can protect myself from my enemies, may God protect me from my friends.

Michael Corleone

I'll change; I'll change. I've learned that I have the strength to change.

Michael Corleone

If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it's that you can kill anyone.

Michael Corleone

Fredo, you're nothing to me now. You're not a brother, you're not a friend. I don't want to know you or what you do. I don't want to see you at the hotels, I don't want you near my house. When you see our mother, I want to know a day in advance, so I won't be there. You understand?

Michael Corleone

My offer is this: nothing. Not even the money for the gaming license, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.

Michael Corleone

He was stupid. I was lucky. I'll visit him soon.

Michael Corleone

I don't want anything to happen to him while our mother is still alive.

Michael Corleone

Don't you know that I would use all of my power to prevent something like that from happening?

Michael Corleone

He's been dying from the same heart attack for the last twenty years.

Michael Corleone

See, all our people are businessmen. Their loyalty's based on that. One thing I learned from Pop was to try to think as people around you think. And on that basis, anything's possible.

It made me think of what you once told me: "In five years the Corleone family will be completely legitimate." That was seven years ago.

Michael

I know. I'm trying.

Oh, Michael. Michael, you are blind. It wasn't a miscarriage. It was an abortion. An abortion, Michael. Just like our marriage is an abortion. Something that's unholy and evil. I didn't want your son, Michael! I wouldn't bring another one of you sons into this world! It was an abortion, Michael! It was a son Michael! A son! And I had it killed because this must all end! I know now that it's over. I knew it then. There would be no way, Michael... no way you could ever forgive me, not with this Sicilian thing that's been going on for 2,000 years.

Michael

BITCH!

Michael

You won't take my children!

I will.

Michael

You WON'T TAKE MY CHILDREN!

They're my children too.

Al Neri

Our friend and associate Hyman Roth is in the news. The High Court of Israel turned down his request to live there as a returning Jew. He landed in Buenos Aires last night offering a "gift" of a million dollars if they'd let him stay. They said no. His passport's been invalidated, except for a return trip to the States.

Tom Hagen

He's going to try Panama next.

Michael

Panama won't take him. Not for a million, not for ten million.

Michael

We saw a strange thing on our way here. Some rebels were being arrested, and instead of being arrested, one of them pulled the pin on a grenade he had hidden in his jacket. He took himself and the captain of the command with him. Now, the soldiers are paid to fight; the rebels aren't.

Hyman Roth

What does that tell you?

Michael

They can win.

Fredo Corleone

I'm your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over!

Michael

That's the way Pop wanted it.

Fredo Corleone

It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!

Senator Pat Geary

I despise the dishonest way you pose yourself...yourself and your whole **** family.

Michael

Senator, we're both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.

Michael

You heard what happened in my home?

Frank Pentangeli

Mike, I almost died myself. We was all so relieved.

Michael

In my home! [shouting] In my bedroom where my wife sleeps! Where my children come and play with their toys. In my home.

Michael

C'mon Frankie... my father did business with Hyman Roth, he respected Hyman Roth.

Frank Pentangeli

Your father did business with Hyman Roth, he respected Hyman Roth... but he never trusted Hyman Roth!

Tom Hagen

It would be like trying to kill the President; there's no way we can get to him.

Michael Corleone

Tom, you know you surprise me. If anything in this life is certain - if history has taught us anything - it's that you can kill anyone.

Senator Geary

The Corleone family has done very well here in Nevada. You own, or you control, two major hotels in Vegas, one in Reno. The licenses were grandfathered in so there was no problem with the Gaming Commission. Now, my sources tell me that you plan to make a move against the Tropigala. They tell me that within a week you're gonna move Klingman out. That's quite an expansion. However, it will leave you with one little technical problem. The license will still be in Klingman's name.

Michael

Turnbull is a good man.

Geary

Well, let's cut out the bullshit. I don't want to spend any more time here than I have to. You can have the license. The price is $250,000 plus a monthly payment of five percent of the gross of all four hotels, Mister... "Cor-lee-oh-nay."

Michael

Now, the price for the license is less than $20,000. Am I right?

Geary

That's right.

Michael

Now, why would I ever consider paying more than that?

Geary

Because I intend to squeeze you. I don't like your kind of people. I don't like to see you come out to this clean country with your oily hair, dressed up in those silk suits, trying to pass yourselves off as decent Americans. I'll do business with you, but the fact is that I despise your masquerade, the dishonest way you pose yourself — yourself and your whole **** family.

Michael

Senator... we're both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.

Geary

All right, alll right, some people need to play little games. You play yours. But I want your answer and the money by noon tomorrow. And one more thing: Don't you contact me again, ever. From now on, you deal with Turnbull.

Michael

Senator? You can have my answer now, if you like. My final offer is this: Nothing. Not even the fee for the gaming license, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.

Michael

I have business that's important with Hyman Roth. I don't want it disturbed.

Frank

Then you give your loyalty to a Jew before your own blood.

Michael

You know my father did business with Hyman Roth. He respected him.

Frank

Your father did business with Hyman Roth. Your father respected Hyman Roth, but your father never trusted Hyman Roth, or his Sicilian messenger boy Johnny Ola!

Fredo

Sometimes I think I should have married a woman like you did, like Kay — have kids, have a family, for once in my life be more like Pop.

Michael

It's not easy to be his son, Fredo. It's not easy.

Fredo

Mama used to tease me. She’d say, "You don't belong to me. The Gypsies left you on the doorstep." Sometimes I think it’s true.

Michael

You’re no Gypsy, Fredo.

Fredo

Mikey, I was mad at you! Why couldn’t we spend time like this before?

Michael Corleone

I saw an interesting thing today. A rebel was being arrested, and rather than be taken alive, he pulled the pin on a grenade he had hidden in his jacket. He killed himself and the captain of the command.

Guest

Ah, the rebels are lunatics!

Michael

Maybe. But it occurred to me, the soldiers are paid to fight. The rebels aren't.

Hyman Roth

What does that tell you?

Michael

They can win.

Michael

You heard what happened in my home?

Frank

Mike, I almost died myself. We was all so relieved.

Michael

In my home! In my bedroom, where my wife sleeps! Where my children come and play with their toys! In my home. I want you to help me take my revenge.

Frank

Michael, anything. What can I do?

Michael

Settle these troubles with the Rosato brothers.

Frank

Mike, I don't understand! I don't— Look, I don't have your brain for big deals, but this is a street thing. That Hyman Roth in Miami, that — he's backing up those son-of-a-bitches.

Michael

I know he is.

Frank

Then why? Why do you ask me to lay down to them, Mike?

Michael

It was Hyman Roth that tried to have me killed. I know it was him.

Frank

Jesus Christ, Mike! Jesus Christ! Look, let's get them all. Let's hit them all, now while we got the muscle.

Michael

My father taught me many things here. He taught me in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Now if Hyman Roth sees that I interceded in this thing, in the Rosato Brothers' favor, he's going to think his relationship with me is still good. That's what I want him to think. I want him completely relaxed and confident in our friendship. Then I'll be able to find out who the traitor in my family was.
Note: the bolded portion is ranked #58 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema. That portion has often been attributed to Sun Tzu and sometimes to Niccolò Machiavelli, but there are no published sources yet found which predate its use in this film. There is, however, an Italian proverb that follows closely: "Dagli amici mi guardi Iddio, che dai nemici mi guardo io!" – May God protect me from my friends, I protect myself from my enemies. Voltaire said, "God protect me from my friends, I'll take care of my enemies”.

Michael

Tell me something, Ma. What did Papa think, deep in his heart? He was being strong, strong for his family. But by being strong for his family, could he lose it?

You’re thinking about your wife, about the baby you lost. But you and your wife can always have another baby.

Michael

No, I meant, lose his family.

But you can never lose your family.

Michael

Times are changing.

Questadt

Are you the son of Vito Corleone?

Michael

Yes, I am.

Questadt

Where was he born?

Michael

Corleone, Sicily.

Questadt

Is it, at a time, he has an alias that known to certain circle as 'Godfather'?

Michael

'Godfather' was a term that was used by his friends. One of affection, and one of respect.

Senate Committee Chairman

Mr. Corleone, you have been advised as to your legal rights. We have testimony from a previous witness, one Willi Cicci. He stated that you are head of the most powerful Mafia family in the country. Are you?

Michael

No, I'm not.

Chairman

He testified that you are personally responsible for the murder of a New York police captain in 1947, and with him a man named Virgil Sollozzo. Do you deny this?

Michael

Yes, I do.

Chairman

Is it true, that in the year 1950, you devised the murder of the heads of the "Five Families" in New York, to assume and consolidate your nefarious power?

Michael

That is a complete falsehood.

Chairman

Mr. Questadt?

Questadt

Is it true you have a controlling interest in three major hotels in Las Vegas?

Michael

No, it's not true. I own some stock in some of the hotels there, but very little.

Michael

I also have stock in IBM and IT&T.

Questadt

Do you have any control over gambling and narcotics in New York State?

Michael

No, I do not.

Tom Hagen

Senator, my client would like to read a statement.

Questadt

Mr. Chairman, I think this statement is totally out of order at this time.

Hagen

Sir, my client has answered this committee's questions with the utmost sincerity. He hasn't taken the Fifth Amendment, as it is his right, so in all fairness this statement should be heard.

Chairman

N-No, I'll allow Mr. Corleone to read his statement. I'll put it in the record.

Michael

In the hopes of clearing my family name, to give my children their share of the American way of life without a blemish on their name and background, I have appeared before this committee and given it all my cooperation in my power. I consider it a great personal dishonor to have to deny that I am a criminal. I wish to have the following noted for the record: That I served my country faithfully in World War Two and was awarded the Navy Cross for actions in defense of my country. That I have never been arrested or indicted for any crime. That no proof linking me to any criminal conspiracy, whether it is called "Mafia" or "Cosa Nostra" or any other name, has ever been made public. I have not taken refuge behind the Fifth Amendment, although I have the right to do so. I challenge this committee to produce any witness or evidence against me, and if they do not, I hope they will have the decency to clear my name with the same publicity with which they have besmirched it.

Chairman

Well, I'm sure we're impressed, particularly with your love for our country. The court will be in recess until 10 a.m. Monday, when we will produce a witness who'll corroborate the charges against you. At which time you may very well be subject to indictment for perjury. I remind you that you're still under subpoena. Adjourned!

Michael

What do you want from me? Do you expect me to let you go? Do you expect me to let you take my children from me? Don't you know me? Don't you know that that's an impossibility, that that could never happen, that I'd use all my power to keep something like that from happening? Don't you know that? Kay, now in time, you'll feel differently. You'll be glad I stopped you now. I know that. I know you blame me for losing the baby. Yes, I know what that meant to you. I'll make it up to you, Kay. I swear I'll make it up to you. I'm gonna change. I'll change. I've learned that I have the strength to change. And you'll forget about this miscarriage. And we'll have another child. And we'll go on, you and I. We'll go on.

Oh, Michael. Michael, you are blind. It wasn't a miscarriage. It was an abortion. An abortion, Michael! Just like our marriage is an abortion, something that's unholy and evil. I didn't want your son, Michael! I wouldn't bring another one of you sons into this world! It was an abortion, Michael! It was a son, Michael! A son! And I had it killed because this must all end! I know now that it's over. I knew it then. There would be no way, Michael, no way you could ever forgive me, not with this Sicilian thing that's been going on for 2,000 years—!

Michael

BITCH! [Hits Kay, knocking her down.] You won’t take my children.

Yes, I will!

Michael

YOU WON’T TAKE MY CHILDREN!!!

They’re my children, too!

Ah, say, what do you think of the nerve of those Japs? Them slanty-eyed bastards, huh? Dropping bombs in our backyard, and on Pop's birthday, you know.

Fredo

Now, they didn't know it was Pop's birthday.

"They didn't know it was Pop's birthday."

Tom

We should have expected it after the oil embargo.

What do you mean, expected it? Expect it or not, they have no right dropping bombs. What are you, a Jap lover or something? Are you on their side?

Tessio

I understand thirty thousand men enlisted this morning.

A bunch of saps.

Michael

Why are they saps?

Connie

Sonny, come on, we don't have to talk about the war.

Hey, beat it. You go talk to Carlo, alright? [to Michael] They're saps, because they risk their lives for strangers.

Michael

Now that's Pop talking.

You're goddamn right that's Pop talking.

Michael

They risk— they risk their lives for their country.

Your country ain't your blood. You remember that.

Michael

I don't feel that way.

"I don't feel that way." Well, if you don't feel that way, why don't you just quit college and go to-- go to join the Army?

Michael

I did. I enlisted in the Marines.

Tom

Michael, why? Why didn't you come to us? I mean Pop had to pull a lot of strings to get you a deferment.

Michael

I didn't ask for it. I didn't ask for a deferment and I didn't want it.

What's wrong—

Tom

Come on. Come on! Knock it off!

Tessio

Sonny!

Punk!

Tessio

Sonny. Sonny, sit down.

Go on.

Tessio

Sit down.
One of Sonny's twins: Mommy, Daddy's fighting again! [laughs]

Go show Carlo the tree.
One of Sonny's twins: Uncle Michael, Mama.

Nice. Real nice. Break your father's heart on his birthday.

Fredo

That's swell. Congratulations. [extends his hand to Michael]

Yeah, go on. Encourage him. I want— I want you to get me a drink. Go on. [Fredo exits]

Tom

Now you don't understand but, uh, your father has big plans for you. Now, many times he and I have talked about your future.

Michael

You talked to my father about my future? My future?

Tom

Mikey, he has high hopes for you!

Michael

Well, I have my own plans for my future.

What'd you go to college to get stupid? You're really stupid.

Connie

He's here! Come on!

Come on. Come on. [goes to exit before glancing back to Michael] Stupid.
[All exit while Michael sits at he table alone]