45 ‘Scarface’ Quotes from the Powerful Al Pacino Classic

A dark take on the American Dream, the crime drama "Scarface" remains an unforgettable movie with easily recognizable quotes. Here are 45 of these quintessential statements.

Long before "Peaky Blinders" and "Breaking Bad," audiences already consumed a long history of iconic crime dramas, with "Scarface" still surviving as an everlasting classic. The movie was inspired by the life of the American gangster Al Capone, who sometimes went by the moniker "Scarface."

In the film, protagonist and Cuban refugee Tony Montana arrives in the United States with no money in his pocket. However, Montana, played by Al Pacino, eventually graduates into a mighty drug lord: an unlikely yet tragic story of a proud man whose life slowly becomes filled with alienation from his family, violence, and overall chaos due to his unyielding ambition.

Leading such a complex lifestyle certainly leaves this character and those surrounding him with many interesting anecdotes and one-liners from their crime-ridden underworld. Here are 45 of these quotes.

Tony Montana’s quote: “This country was built on laundered money.” | Image: AmoDays

"SCARFACE" QUOTES ON MONEY AND POWER

“You still gonna show up here and throw some money around, and you think you can get my respect? You think you can buy me with jewelry?” — Mama Montana

“You know what you’re becoming, Tony? You’re an immigrant…millionaire who can’t stop talking about money.” — Elvira Hancock

“You’re gonna find; if you stay loyal in this business, you’re gonna move up. You’re gonna move up fast.” — Frank Lopez

“Lesson number one: don’t underestimate the other guy’s greed!” — Frank Lopez

“This country was built on laundered money.” — Tony Montana

Mama Montana’s quote: “You still gonna show up here and throw some money around, and you think you can get my respect? You think you can buy me with jewelry?” | Image: AmoDays

“[To Tony] Remember I told you when you started; the guys who last in this business ..are the guys who fly straight, low-key, quiet. And the guys who want it all; chicas, champagne, flash ..they don't last.” — Frank Lopez

“Okay, here’s the story. I come from the gutter. I know that. I got no education, but that’s okay. I know the street, and I’m making all the right connections. With the right woman, there’s no stopping me. I could go right to the top.” —Tony Montana

"Me, I want what's coming to me...The world chico, and everything in it." —Tony Montana

"I work hard for this. I want you to know that." —Tony Montana

ICONIC "SCARFACE" QUOTES

“Okay. You wanna play rough? Okay! Say hello to my little friend!” — Tony Montana

Tony Montana’s quote: "In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women." | Image: AmoDays

"In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women." — Tony Montana

"Every dog has his day.” — Tony Montana

“You don’t have the guts to be what you wanna be! You need people like me so you can point your [expletive] fingers and say, ‘That’s the bad guy!’” — Tony Montana

"I always tell the truth. Even when I lie." — Tony Montana

COMBATIVE "SCARFACE" QUOTES

"You think you can take me?" — Tony Montana

Tony Montana’s quote: "You wanna waste my time? Okay. I call my lawyer. He's the best lawyer in Miami. He's such a good lawyer that by tomorrow morning, you gonna be working in Alaska. So dress warm." | Image: AmoDays

“You can’t tell me what to do, Tony. No more. I am not a baby anymore. I’ll do what I wanna do. I’ll see whoever I wanna see." — Gina Montana

“Who put this thing together? Me, that’s who! Who do I trust? Me!” — Tony Montana

"You wanna waste my time? Okay. I call my lawyer. He's the best lawyer in Miami. He's such a good lawyer that by tomorrow morning, you gonna be working in Alaska. So dress warm." — Tony Montana

MORE 'SCARFACE' QUOTES

“Uh, in a school. And my father, he was, uh, from the United States. Just like you, ya know? He was a Yankee. Uh, he used to take me a lot to the movies. I learn. I watch the guys like Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney. They, they teach me to talk. I like those guys. I always know one day I’m comin’ here, United States.” — Tony Montana

"I like Fernando, her's a fun guy and nice... and he knows how to treat a woman." — Gina Montana

Mel Bernstein’s quote: "Every day above ground is a good day." | Image: AmoDays

“You know what your problem is, pussycat?” — Tony Montana

"Antonio Montana, how bout you? What you call yourself?" — Tony Montana

"You know, all we hear about it in the papers, it's animals like you and the killings. It's Cubans like you who were given a bad name to all our people, people who come here and work hard and make a good living for themselves. People who send you to school..." — Mama Montana

“Where are you going? Come here! Coño, hey! Elvy! I was kidding. I was only kidding!” — Tony Montana

“Don’t go too far, Tony.” — Mel Bernstein

Elvira Hancock’s quote: "Don’t call me ‘baby.’ I’m not your ‘baby.'” | Image: AmoDays

“Every day above ground is a good day.” — Mel Bernstein

“I got ears, ya know. I hear things.” — Tony Montana

“Now you’re talking to me, baby! That I like! Keep it coming!” — Tony Montana

“Nothing exceeds like excess. You should know that, Tony.” — Elvira Hancock

"I like you. I liked you the very first time I laid eyes on you. I said, 'She's a tiger. She belongs to me.'" — Tony Montana

Tony Montana’s quote: “The world is yours, chico, and everything in it. So say goodnight to the bad guy.” | Image: AmoDays

"Fly Pelican...Come on, pelicans! Fly, fly away!" — Tony Montana

"You finished?" —Tony Montana

“So, you want to dance, Frank, or you want to sit there and have a heart attack?” — Elvira Hancock

“Don’t toot your horn, honey, you’re not that good.” — Elvira Hancock

Tony Montana’s quote: “Say hello to my little friend!” | Image: AmoDays

"SON! I wish I had one. He's a bum." — Mama Montana

“Don’t call me ‘baby.’ I’m not your ‘baby.'” — Elvira Hancock

"Hey, Ernie? You wanna job?" — Tony Montana

"So say goodnight to the bad guy!" — Tony Montana

“You got nothing to do with your life, man. Why don’t you get a job? Do something, be a nurse. Work with blind kids, lepers, that kind of thing. " — Tony Montana

Frank Lopez’ quote: “You’re gonna find; if you stay loyal in this business, you’re gonna move up. You’re gonna move up fast.” | Image: Amodays

"You worry too much. You're gonna have a heart attack." — Tony Montana

“I kill a communist for fun, but for a green card, I gonna carve him up real nice.” — Tony Montana

“The world is yours, chico, and everything in it. So say goodnight to the bad guy.” — Tony Montana

"I'm Tony Montana! — Tony Montana

“You want to play games? Okay, I play with you.” — Tony Montana

Frank Lopez’ quote: “Lesson number one: don’t underestimate the other guy’s greed!” | Image: AmoDays

This movie, although made decades ago, can still apply to many themes in our current society. This includes the idolization of money and what some may view as a tragic underlying philosophy of our wealth and status-obsessed culture.

For some more crime drama fun, read these quotes by gang leader Thomas Shelby, the protagonist of "Peaky Blinders."