"Goodfellas," directed by Martin Scorsese, is a cinematic masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on the world of crime drama. Based on the true-life story of Henry Hill and his life in the mob, this film is known for its authenticity, gripping screenplay, and unforgettable quotes. The quotes from "Goodfellas" capture the essence of the characters, their relationships, and the brutal reality of their lives. Whether you're a fan of the film or just appreciate great dialogue, these quotes offer insights into the world of the mob, loyalty, betrayal, and ambition. Let's dive into the iconic lines that have made "Goodfellas" a critical and audience favorite.
Quotes of Loyalty and Brotherhood
"As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster." - Henry Hill
"Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut." - Jimmy Conway
"We were good fellas. Wiseguys." - Henry Hill
"You understand? Fuhgeddaboudit!" - Jimmy Conway
"We're not animals. We're not immoral." - Paul Cicero
"It's not about how you swim, it's about how you dive in." - Tommy DeVito
"You don't make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets." - Henry Hill
"To me, being a gangster was better than being president of the United States." - Henry Hill
"Everybody knew it could never work. But it was the two of us against the world." - Karen Hill
"One day, some of the kids from the neighborhood carried my mother's groceries all the way home." - Henry Hill
"For me, to live any other way was nuts." - Henry Hill
"You learn the two greatest things in life: Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut." - Jimmy Conway
Quotes on Crime and the Mob Life
"Screw you, pay me." - Jimmy Conway
"Paulie may have moved slow, but it was only because Paulie didn’t have to move for anybody." - Henry Hill
"Business bad? F*** you, pay me." - Henry Hill
"Now go home and get your shine box." - Billy Batts
"It’s just, you know, you’re just funny. It’s… funny, the way you tell the story and everything." - Henry Hill
"I'm not mad, I'm proud of you." - Jimmy Conway
"If you're worried about getting whacked, you gotta keep your eyes open." - Henry Hill
"It was perfect. No one would ever suspect." - Henry Hill
"You're gonna like this guy. He's all right." - Jimmy Conway
"These, these criminals, they are nom de plumes of the underworld." - Henry Hill
"If you’re part of a crew, nobody ever tells you that they’re going to kill you." - Henry Hill
"I got a lot of respect for this guy. I mean, guys like him, they’re the backbone of what we do." - Henry Hill
Quotes on Family and Relationships
"Murderers come with smiles." - Henry Hill
"After a while, it got to be all normal." - Karen Hill
"We always called each other good fellas." - Henry Hill
"I got a year in jail just for being a wiseguy." - Henry Hill
"I had to get up and go into the bathroom in the middle of dinner." - Karen Hill
"You’re always the last to leave." - Jimmy Conway
"You were always late or you didn’t show up at all!" - Karen Hill
"Sunday dinners were a part of the life we had chosen." - Henry Hill
"We expand out territories and protect ourselves." - Paul Cicero
"You bust my balls." - Henry Hill
"Nobody goes to jail unless they want to." - Jimmy Conway
"You do what you have to do." - Henry Hill
Quotes of Wisdom and Philosophy
"The hardest thing to do is walk away." - Henry Hill
"It's a matter of respect." - Jimmy Conway
"I knew what I wanted. I was not surprised by what I became." - Henry Hill
"The most important thing in life is not money or power; it’s respect." - Paul Cicero
"You have to navigate through a chaotic world, but you must never lose your sense of self." - Henry Hill
"A wiseguy's life is not about luxury, it's about survival." - Henry Hill
"Understand your environment, or be swallowed by it." - Paul Cicero
"The game is rigged, and we’re the ones doing the rigging." - Henry Hill
"You need a vision to survive." - Paul Cicero
"Live fast, die young." - Tommy DeVito
"Control your fate, don’t wait for it to control you." - Jimmy Conway
"Everyone takes a beating sometimes." - Henry Hill
Quotes on Ambition and Power
"I wanted to be somebody." - Henry Hill
"Power is achieved, not given." - Paul Cicero
"The world is available to those who see it as it is." - Henry Hill
"Don’t let anyone ever make you feel like you don’t deserve what you want." - Paul Cicero
"The secrets of success lay within how you rule." - Jimmy Conway
"We were unstoppable." - Henry Hill
"Our reach extended to the highest levels." - Paul Cicero
"All you need is a little vision." - Jimmy Conway
"The world belonged to us." - Henry Hill
"If you want, take it." - Paul Cicero
"Unleash your ambition." - Henry Hill
"To lead is to have the power to make decisions." - Jimmy Conway
Quotes on Betrayal and Trust
"Betrayal is the only truth that sticks." - Jimmy Conway
"I always knew the easy way wouldn’t last." - Henry Hill
"The deeper the trust, the deeper the betrayal." - Paul Cicero
"I've been loyal, but loyalty has a price." - Henry Hill
"I never lied to you." - Karen Hill
"Trust is earned, not given." - Jimmy Conway
"You only trust the family, nobody else." - Henry Hill
"I should have never trusted a rat." - Paul Cicero
"You're nothing without trust." - Jimmy Conway
"People you trust the most can hurt you the most." - Henry Hill
"A handshake means everything." - Paul Cicero
"Loyalty above everything." - Jimmy Conway
Quotes on Money and Greed
"Money is the root of all evil." - Paul Cicero
"The more you have, the more you want." - Henry Hill
"Greed is good, but dangerous." - Jimmy Conway
"They got to always be going for the big money." - Karen Hill
"Money comes with responsibility." - Paul Cicero
"We stole what we wanted." - Henry Hill
"Money can buy anything, but not freedom." - Jimmy Conway
"Everybody’s greedy, even me." - Henry Hill
"Money and power go hand in hand." - Paul Cicero
"We were rich, but never secure." - Henry Hill
"The price of wealth is a target on your back." - Jimmy Conway
"In the end, money couldn’t save us." - Henry Hill
Quotes on Violence and Fear
"Fear is stronger than love." - Jimmy Conway
"Violence is part of our business." - Paul Cicero
"They fear us because they should." - Henry Hill
"Never show weakness." - Jimmy Conway
"A tough guy is not born, he is made." - Henry Hill
"You have to instill fear to get respect." - Paul Cicero
"We control through fear and violence." - Henry Hill
"Our life is based on terrorizing." - Jimmy Conway
"Fear keeps you alive." - Henry Hill
"Fear drives men to their limits." - Paul Cicero
"The more they fear you, the more they obey." - Jimmy Conway
"Violence was necessary." - Henry Hill
Quotes on Freedom and Escape
"Freedom is a luxury we can't afford." - Henry Hill
"Escape is always on our minds." - Karen Hill
"There’s no easy way out." - Jimmy Conway
"The only freedom we know is on the run." - Henry Hill
"Every moment of freedom is borrowed time." - Paul Cicero
"Getting out is easier said than done." - Henry Hill
"We dream of freedom but live in chains." - Jimmy Conway
"Freedom means leaving everything behind." - Henry Hill
"The price of freedom is too high." - Paul Cicero
"You have to escape to survive." - Henry Hill
"There is no freedom in a life of crime." - Jimmy Conway
"Freedom is an illusion in our world." - Karen Hill
Quotes of Redemption and Regrets
"We all pay for our mistakes." - Henry Hill
"Redemption is a long road." - Paul Cicero
"I wanted to make things right." - Henry Hill
"There are no second chances." - Jimmy Conway
"Our regrets are the shadow of our crimes." - Henry Hill
"You can’t run from your past." - Karen Hill
"We live with our ghosts." - Paul Cicero
"Regret is the price of survival." - Henry Hill
"Every sin has its price." - Jimmy Conway
"Trying to be good is tougher than being bad." - Henry Hill
"We look for redemption, but we rarely find it." - Paul Cicero
"Living in regret is worse than the crime itself." - Henry Hill
Final words
"Goodfellas" is a film rich with dialogue that resonates on multiple levels. The quotes compiled here provide a window into the themes of loyalty, betrayal, power, and morality that define the lives of its characters. Each line delivers a punch of realism, backed by stellar performances that bring these words to life. By revisiting these quotes, we can appreciate the intricate layers of storytelling and character development that make "Goodfellas" an enduring classic. In the end, it's through these memorable lines that audiences connect with the film's raw honesty and unflinching portrayal of the mafia world. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the film, these quotes remind us why "Goodfellas" remains a timeless piece of cinema.
