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

Any man can turn traitor.

Even as a young man, Vito Corleone became known as a "man of reasonableness." He never uttered a threat. He always used logic that proved to be irresistible. He always made certain that the other fellow got his share of profit. Nobody lost. He did this, of course, by obvious means. Like many businessmen of genius he learned that free competition was wasteful, monopoly efficient. And so he simply set about achieving that efficient monopoly.

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

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

It was from this experience came his oft-repeated belief that every man has but one destiny.

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