45 ‘The Godfather II’ Quotes from One of Cinema's Most Memorable Films

Portrayed by a star-studded cast in the 1970s, "The Godfather Part 2" follows the younger son of Vito Corleone as he takes over the family business after initially resisting. The crime drama does a brilliant and heartwrenching job of exploring free will and fate in the face of enticing power.

"The Godfather Part II" sees Michael Corleone's rise in power, wealth, and influence, and that rise occurred simultaneously with his personal growth. Michael was a complex man who preferred to keep people on their toes about his next move.

In his dealings, he was strategic but not provocative. Still, he was menacing when he needed to be. Michael had initially joined the family crime business in a bid to protect his father but lost sight of that somewhere down the line.

Among the consequences of his involvement was the undoing of his close relationships. However, it also revealed the cracks in them that might've stayed hidden had he chosen a different path, as the quotes below will help you glimpse.

A photo of from "The Godfather II" with the quote, "Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment." | Source/YouTube/paramountmovies

Some of Michael Corleone's Most Memorable Lines from 'The Godfather Part 2'

"Never let anyone know what you're thinking." — Michael Corleone

"I don't feel like I have to wipe everybody out. just my enemies." — Michael Corleone

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment." — Michael Corleone

"You straightened my brother out?" — Michael Corleone

A photo of from "The Godfather II" with the quote, "It's not personal, Sonny. it's strictly business." | Source/YouTube/paramountmovies

"Vincent, will you shut up!?" — Michael Corleone

"I know it was you, Fredo. you broke my heart. You broke my heart." — Michael Corleone

"It's not personal, Sonny. it's strictly business." — Michael Corleone

World Observations from 'The Godfather Part 2' Characters

"Good health is the most important thing, more than success, more than money, more than power." — Hyman Roth

A photo from "The Godfather PartII" With the quote, "Every time I put my line in the water I said a Hail Mary, and every time I said a Hail Mary I caught a fish." — Fredo Corleone | Source: YouTube/paramountmovies

"[flashback to Vito's birthday in December 1941]

Sonny: [about soldiers] They're saps! because they risk their lives for strangers.

Michael: Now that's Pop talking.

Sonny: You're goddamn right that's Pop talking.

Michael: They risk, they risk their lives for their country.

Sonny: Your country ain't your blood — you remember that." — "The Godfather Part II"

"Can you believe in your country? Those Pezzonovante of the State who decide what we shall do with our lives? Who declare wars, they wish us to fight in to protect what they own. Do you put your fate in the hands of men whose only talent is that they tricked a bloc of people to vote for them?" — Vito Andolini Corleone

"Every time I put my line in the water I said a Hail Mary, and every time I said a Hail Mary I caught a fish." — Fredo Corleone

"If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone." — Michael Corleone

A photo from "The Godfather Part II" with the quote, "Michael Corleone: I've always taken care of you Fredo." Fredo Corleone: Taken care of me? You're my kid brother and you take care of me? Did you ever think about that, huh?" | Source: YouTube/paramountmovies

'The Godfather Part 2' Quotes from Moments between the Ones Who Were Close

"Fredo Corleone: Uno... por favor...

Fredo Corleone [to Michael]: How do you say 'banana daiquiri?'

Michael Corleone: Banana daiquiri.” — "The Godfather Part Two"

"Michael: 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?

[walks out]

Fredo: Mikey...

Michael: [to Neri] I don't want anything to happen to him while my mother is alive." — "The Godfather Part II"

"Michael Corleone: I've always taken care of you, Fredo.

Fredo Corleone: Taken care of me? You're my kid brother and you take care of me? Did you ever think about that, huh?" — "The Godfather Part II"

"That's my family, Kay. That's not me." — Michael Corleone

A photo from "The Godfather Part II" with the quote, "[Kay is threatening to take the children away] Michael: Don't you know that I would use all of my power to prevent something like that from happening??" | Source: YouTube/paramountmovies

"Kay Adams-Corleone: 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 Corleone: I know. I'm trying, darling." — "The Godfather Part Two"

"Michael: [in Sicilian] 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?

Mama Carmela Corleone: 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.

Mama Carmela: But you can never lose your family.

Michael: [nods] Times are changing." — "The Godfather Part II"

"[Kay is threatening to take the children away] Michael: Don't you know that I would use all of my power to prevent something like that from happening??" — "The Godfather Part II"

'The Godfather 2' Quotes: Business Always Took Precedence, and so Did Family

"Fredo, you're my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever." — Michael Corleone

"All my people are businessmen; their loyalty is based on that." — Michael Corleone

A photo from "The Godfather Part II" with the quote, "This is the business we chose." | Source: YouTube/paramountmovies

"Michael Corleone: You heard what happened in my home?

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

Michael Corleone: In my home!

Michael Corleone: In my bedroom where my wife sleeps! Where my children come and play with their toys. In my home." — "The Godfather Part Two"

"So when he turned up dead, I let it go. And I said to myself, this is the business we've chosen. I didn't ask who gave the order, because it had nothing to do with business!" — Hyman Roth

"Why do you hurt me, Michael? I've always been loyal to you." — Tom Hagen

"This is the business we chose." — Hyman Roth

A photo from "The Godfather Part II" with the quote, "We're both part of the same hypocrisy, senator, but never think it applies to my family." | Source: YouTube/paramountpictures

"There was something in it for me, on my own." — Fredo Corleone

"I suppose I always knew you were too smart to let any of them ever beat you." — Kay Adams-Corleone

"[about Hyman Roth] He has been dying from the same heart attack for the last twenty years." — Michael Corleone

"I don't trust a doctor who can hardly speak English." — Hyman Roth

A photo from "The Godfather Part II" with the quote, "Micheal, we're bigger than U.S. Steel." | Source: YouTube.paramountmovies

"I'm not interested in things that don't concern me." — Vito Corleone

"I make him an offer he don't refuse." — Vito Corleone

"Micheal, we're bigger than U.S. Steel." — Hyman Roth

"If I could only live to see it, to be there with you. What I wouldn't give for twenty more years!" — Hyman Roth

"If what I think has happened is true; I will leave tonight, and absolutely no one will know how to contact me. And even you are not to try to reach me unless it is absolutely necessary." — Michael Corleone

A photo from "The Godfather Part II" with the quote, "Just when I thought I was out. They pull me back in." | Source: YouTube/paramountmovies

'The Godfather 2' Quotes: Nostalgia and a Change of Heart

"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." — Michael Corleone

"My father taught me many things here. He taught me in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close but your enemies closer." — Michael Corleone

"Those were the great old days, you know... And we was like the Roman Empire... The Corleone family was like the Roman Empire…" — Frank Pentangeli

"Just when I thought I was out. They pull me back in." — Michael Corleone

"I'll change; I'll change. I've learned that I have the strength to change." — Michael Corleone

A photo from "The Godfather Part II" with the quote, "You straightened my brother out?" | Source: YouTube/paramountmovies

"The Godfather Part II" is chiefly recognized as a crime drama, but at its heart, this movie was a tragedy. The situations the main characters faced built them up, only to break them down and everything around them.

The stars who brought this story to life include Hollywood giants Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Diane Keaton. If you want to glimpse another world of crime, read these quotes from "The Sopranos's" Paulie Walnuts, played by Tony Sirico, alongside the late James Gandolfini and Michael Imperioli.