Tessio is the other powerful caporegime in the Corleone Family alongside Peter Clemenza. Tessio first collaborates with Vito Corleone and Clemenza as a young man in Little Italy. When Don Fanucci demands protection money from the three men’s rackets, Tessio is the first to agree to Vito’s plan that they pay Fanucci less than he demands so that Vito can snare him in a murder trap. Tessio’s early trust in Vito solidifies a lifelong personal and business relationship between the two men, and Don Vito eventually makes Tessio a caporegime in charge of the Corleone Family’s Brooklyn territory. After Sollozo’s attempt on Don Vito’s life, Tessio’s soldiers are instrumental in carrying out the retaliatory murder of Bruno Tattaglia. In contrast to Clemenza, who embodies Mafia loyalty, Tessio becomes a symbol of betrayal. Although he respects Michael Corleone, Tessio does not trust him to protect the Corleone Family’s interests after Don Vito’s death. In order to lay the foundation for his own crime Family, Tessio arranges a peace summit between Michael and Don Barzini, knowing that the latter will murder Michael there. When Michael discovers the plot, he has Tessio assassinated as a warning to other potential traitors.
Salvatore “Sal” Tessio Quotes in The Godfather
The The Godfather quotes below are all either spoken by Salvatore “Sal” Tessio or refer to Salvatore “Sal” Tessio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 14
Quotes
When he became a Don and asked opponents to sit down and reason with him, they understood it was the last chance to resolve an affair without bloodshed and murder.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 28
Quotes
“Revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold.”
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Salvatore “Sal” Tessio Quotes in The Godfather
The The Godfather quotes below are all either spoken by Salvatore “Sal” Tessio or refer to Salvatore “Sal” Tessio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 14
Quotes
When he became a Don and asked opponents to sit down and reason with him, they understood it was the last chance to resolve an affair without bloodshed and murder.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 28
Quotes
“Revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold.”