Mario Puzo Quotes & Sayings

The other Dons in the room applauded and rose to shake hands with everybody in sight and to congratulate Don Corleone and Don Tattaglia on their new friendship. It was not perhaps the warmest friendship in the world, they would not send each other Christmas gift greetings, but they would not murder each other. That was friendship enough in this world, all that was needed. — Mario Puzo

Actions defined a man; words were a fart in the wind. — Mario Puzo

We are all honorable men here, we do not have to give each other assurances as if we were lawyers. — Mario Puzo

Brasi left the room. Two of his men assisted the midwife and the baby was born, the mother was exhausted and went into a deep sleep. Brasi was summoned and Filomena, who had wrapped the newborn child in an extra blanket, extended the bundle to him and said, "If you're the father, take her. My work is finished." Brasi glared at her, malevolent, insanity stamped on his face. "Yes, I'm the father," he said. "But I don't want any of that race to live. Take it down to the basement and throw it into the furnace. — Mario Puzo

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

Preparing the communal evening meal sometimes caused arguments. Every village in Sicily had a different recipe for squid and eels, disagreed on what herbs should be disbarred from the tomato sauce. And whether sausages should ever be baked. — Mario Puzo

He was a degenerate gambler. That is, a man who gambled simply to gamble and must lose. As a hero who goes to war must die. Show me a gambler and I'll show you a loser, show me a hero and I'll show you a corpse. — Mario Puzo

Great men have allied themselves with the angels at a terrible price to themselves. Evil men indulge their slightest whim for small satisfactions while accepting the fate of burning in Hell. — Mario Puzo

Revenge is a dish which taste best when served cold. — Mario Puzo

The Don considered a use of threats the most foolish kind of exposure; the unleashing of anger without forethought as the most dangerous indulgence. No one had ever heard the Don utter a naked threat, no one had ever seen him in an uncontrollable rage. It was unthinkable. — Mario Puzo

That night a bomb exploded in the Corleone Family mall in Long Beach, thrown from a car that pulled up to the chain, then roared away. That night also two button men of the Corleone Family were killed as they peaceably ate their dinner in a small Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village. The Five Families War of 1946 had begun. — Mario Puzo

Life is like a box of Hand grenades,You never know what will blow you to kingdom come — Mario Puzo

Jack Woltz: Now you listen to me, you smooth-talking son-of-a-bitch, let me lay it on the line for you and your boss, whoever he is! Johnny Fontane will never get that movie! I don't care how many dago guinea wop greaseball goombahs come out of the woodwork!
Tom Hagen: I'm German-Irish.
Jack Woltz: Well, let me tell you something, my kraut-mick friend, I'm gonna make so much trouble for you, you won t know what hit you!
Tom Hagen: Mr. Woltz, I'm a lawyer. I have not threatened you. — Mario Puzo

Wasn't it true that Sometimes the greatest misfortunes brought unforseen rewards? -Don Corleone — Mario Puzo

It's more important that you grow up to be a man," he said, "than to be a genius. — Mario Puzo

Destiny had decided that he was to become a Don and had brought Fanucci to him to set him on his destined path. — Mario Puzo

And in that fraction of a second before anything actually happened, Santino Corleone knew he was a dead man. — Mario Puzo

Why should I be afraid now? Strange men have come to kill me ever since I was twelve years old. — Mario Puzo

Freddie's face was anxious."Mike,you sure about Moe Greene selling?He never mentioned it me and he loves the business.I really don't think that he'll sell."
Michael said quietly,"I'll make him an offer he can't refuse."
The words were said casually yet the effect was chilling. — Mario Puzo

Falling in love is great but being in love is a disaster — Mario Puzo

Michael: Barzini will set me up through somebody close ... that, supposedly, I won't suspect.
Hagen: Somebody like me.
Michael: You're Irish, they won't trust you.
Hagen: I'm German-American.
Michael: To them that's Irish. — Mario Puzo

Love is like the little red toy wagon you get for your Christmas or your sixth birthday. It makes you deliriously happy and you just can't leave it alone. But sooner or later the wheels come off. Then you leave it in a corner and forget it. Falling in love is great. Being in love is a disaster — Mario Puzo

Tell my father I wish to be his son. -Michael Corleone — Mario Puzo

The victory of the Corleone Family was complete. During that same twenty-four-hour period Clemenza and Lampone turned loose their regimes and punished the infiltrators of the Corleone domains. — Mario Puzo

Lampone made a gesture that said he would be patient, knowing his reward was certain. — Mario Puzo

I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse. — Mario Puzo

But time erodes gratitude more quickly than it does beauty. Now Bonasera felt the sickness of a man faced with disaster. — Mario Puzo

The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other. — Mario Puzo

It was presumptuous for one man to forgive another. That was the duty of God. For men to pretend such mercy was an idle pride and a lack of respect. He did not desire any such mercy for himself. — Mario Puzo

The meeting would be safe as a wedding. — Mario Puzo

We are not responsible to the .90 calibers the pezzonovantis who take it upon themselves to decide what we shall do with out lives, who declare wars they wish us to fight in to protect what they own ... And who are they then to meddle when we look after our own interests? Sonna cosa nostra ... these are our own affairs. We will manage our world for ourselves because it is our world, cosa nostra — Mario Puzo

I like to drink wine more than I used to. Anyway, I'm drinking more. — Mario Puzo

The truth now.He was disappointed in human beings.He had seen too many betrayals,too many pitiful weaknesses,too much greed for money and fame.The falseness between lovers,husbands and wifes,fathers,sons,mothers,daughters — Mario Puzo

Some honorable men spend their whole life preparing for a supreme act of treachery — Mario Puzo

It can be argued that man's instinct to gamble is the only reason he is still not a monkey up in the trees. — Mario Puzo

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. — Mario Puzo

It was understood, it was mere good manners, to proclaim that you were in his debt and that he had the right to call upon you at any time to redeem your debt by some small service. Now — Mario Puzo

Gambling is not as destructive as war or as boring as pornography. It is not as immoral as business or as suicidal as watching television. And the percentages are better than religion. — Mario Puzo

Don had made a fewer mistakes and learned from every one of them — Mario Puzo

In this world there comes a time when the most humble of men, if he keeps his eyes open, can take his revenge on the most powerful. — Mario Puzo

Men in general sooner forget the lost their matrimony than the death of their father — Mario Puzo

Softly, reassuringly, he comforted his friend, as they waited for death together. As if the Don could truly snatch the life of Genco Abbandando back from that most foul and criminal traitor to man. — Mario Puzo

Oh, what a wicked world it is that drives a man to sin. — Mario Puzo

Power wears out those who do not have it. — Mario Puzo

You let women dictate your actions and they are not competent in this world, though certainly they will be saints in heaven while we men burn in hell. — Mario Puzo

When they come... they come at what you love. — Mario Puzo

Walter Kaylin was great! He was outrageous, he just carried it off. He'd have this one guy killing a thousand other guys. Then they beat him into the ground, you think he's dead, but he rises up again and kills another thousand guys. — Mario Puzo

Michael looked around the beautiful garden with its many colored flowers, fragrant lemon trees, the old statures of the gods dug from ancient ruins, other newer ones of holy saints, the rose-colored walls across the villa. It was a lovely setting for the examination of twelve murderous apostles. — Mario Puzo

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

When Johnny didn't answer, the Don went on. Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It is almost the equal of family. Never forget that. — Mario Puzo

I find the only thing that really stands up, better than gambling, better than booze, better than women, is reading. — Mario Puzo

It's all personal, every bit of business. Every piece of shit every man has to eat every day of his life is personal. They call it business. OK. But it's personal as hell. — Mario Puzo

have no intention of placing my fate in the hands of men whose only qualification is that they managed to con a bloc of people to vote for them. — Mario Puzo

Take the gun. Leave the cannoli. — Mario Puzo

I believe in America. America's made my fortune. — Mario Puzo

Nino?" When Johnny didn't answer, the Don went on. "Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It is almost the equal of family. Never forget that. If you had built up a wall of friendships you wouldn't have to ask me to help. — Mario Puzo

The gunman said, Fabrizzio,Michael Corleone sends you his regards. — Mario Puzo

A lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than a thousand men with guns. — Mario Puzo

I do not seek it or desire it. If I must, I will accept the punishment for all my sins. — Mario Puzo

Do not count on the gratitude of deeds done for people in the past,you must make them grateful for things you will do for them in the future. — Mario Puzo

Never let a domestic quarrel ruin a day's writing. If you can't start the day fresh, get rid of your wife. — Mario Puzo

He smelled the garden, the yellow shield of light smote his eyes, and he whispered, "Life is so beautiful."
...
Yes, he thought, if I can die saying, "Life is so beautiful," then nothing else is important. — Mario Puzo

Anybody. She uses her body like I use the loose — Mario Puzo

You lived like a fool and you have come to a fool's end. — Mario Puzo

Mothers are like cops. They always believe the worst. — Mario Puzo

Forgive. Forget. Life is full of misfortunes. — Mario Puzo

The fact of the matter is that I wanted to hold a grudge in some funny kind of way.Against everybody. — Mario Puzo

Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger. — Mario Puzo

I have always believed helping your fellow man is profitable in every sense, personally and bottom line. — Mario Puzo

Yet, he thought, if I can die saying, "Life is so beautiful," then nothing else is important. If i can believe in myself that much, nothing else matters. — Mario Puzo

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. — Mario Puzo

Neri was content, satisfied that he lived in a world that properly rewarded a man who did his duty. — Mario Puzo

Leave the gun, take the cannoli. — Mario Puzo

Nothing was more calming, more conducive to pure reason, than the atmosphere of money. — Mario Puzo

Did Jack Woltz have the balls to risk everything, to run the chance of losing all on a matter of principle, on a matter of honor; for revenge? — Mario Puzo

A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man. — Mario Puzo

He had long ago learned that society imposes insults that must be borne, comforted by the knowledge that in this world there comes a time when the most humble of men, if he keeps his eyes open, can take his revenge on the most powerful. It was this knowledge that prevented the Don from losing the humility all his friends admired in him. — Mario Puzo

Every family has bad memories. — Mario Puzo

Your enemies always get strong on what you leave behind. — Mario Puzo

Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment. — Mario Puzo

But his Godfather had never said such and such a thing could be done without having it done. — Mario Puzo

I will make you an offer you cannot refuse — Mario Puzo

But you're the toughest son of a b!&€# i've ever seen.You never let anybody get near you.You never let anybody know what you really think. — Mario Puzo

It pleased him to see the hurt look on her face, the tears springing into her eyes. She might be a daughter of the Great Don but she was his wife, she was his property now and he could treat her as he pleased. It made him feel powerful that one of the Corleones was his doormat. — Mario Puzo

Do you believe a man can truly love a woman and constantly betray her?Never mind physically but betray her in his mind,in the very "poetry of his soul".Well,it's not easy but men do it all the time. — Mario Puzo

We are a family, and the loyalty of the family must come before anything and everyone else. For if we honor that commitment, we will never be vanquished-but if we falter in that loyalty we will all be condemned. — Mario Puzo

What would the world come to if people kept carrying grudges against all reason? That has been the cross of Sicily, where men are so busy with vendettas they have no time to earn bread for their families. — Mario Puzo

Many young men started down a false path to their true destiny. Time and fortune usually set them aright. — Mario Puzo

She cannot return your love. She does not live in our world. She does not even live in the world of animals. She lives on a different star, absolutely alone. — Mario Puzo

He made no empty promises, nor the craven excuse that his hands were tied by more powerful forces in the world than himself. — Mario Puzo

treachery can't be forgiven. — Mario Puzo

Tell my father I wish to be his son. — Mario Puzo

There are things that have to be done and you do them and you never talk about them. You don't try to justify them. They can't be justified. You just do them. Then you forget it. — Mario Puzo

You can't hide the thunderbolt. When it hits you, everybody can see it. Christ, man, don't be ashamed of it, some men pray for the thunderbolt. You're a very lucky fellow. - Calo — Mario Puzo

Italians have a little joke, that the world is so hard a man must have two fathers to look after him, and that's why they have godfathers. — Mario Puzo

Listen to me. I will tell you the truth about a man's life. I will tell you the truth about his love for women. — Mario Puzo

Great men are not born great, they grow great . . . — Mario Puzo

They made it personal when they shot Pop. It is not business, it's personal. — Mario Puzo

The story you are holding was first published in 1969, which was, as you may know, a very interesting year. — Mario Puzo

Michael could never remember his father ever having uttered a word about death, as if the Don respected death too much to philosophize about it. — Mario Puzo