It was part of the Don’s greatness that he profited from everything.
Luca Brasi did not fear the police, he did not fear society, he did not fear God, he did not fear hell, he did not fear or love his fellow man. But he had elected, he had chosen, to fear and love Don Corleone.
“I believe in America. America has made my fortune.”
“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
“A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.”
“Even the shooting of your father was business, not personal. You should know that by now.”
He was surprised to find himself so secretive with Kay. He loved her, he trusted her, but he would never tell her anything about his father or the Family. She was an outsider.
“But you can’t get sore at him. It’s like getting sore at God.”
He could use power and monetary favors grudgingly, always alert for treason, always believing that women would betray and desert him, adversaries to be bested. Or he could refuse to hate women and continue to believe in them.
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.
She might be a daughter of the Great Don but she was his wife, she was his property now and he could treat her as he pleased.
She was quite content not to share the pain of her men, after all did they share the pain of women?
Nothing was more calming, more conducive to pure reason, than the atmosphere of money.
“We are all men who have refused to be fools, who have refused to be puppets dancing on a string pulled by the men on high. We have been fortunate here in this country […] Some of you have sons who are professors, scientists, musicians, and you are fortunate. Perhaps your grandchildren will become the new pezzonovanti.”
Merit meant nothing. Talent meant nothing. Work meant nothing. The Mafia Godfather gave you your profession as a gift.
“You’ll be my wife but you won’t be my partner in life, as I think they say. Not an equal partner. That can’t be.”
“But don’t ever take sides with anybody against the Family again.”
“Revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold.”
He would see to it that they joined the general family of humanity, but he, as a powerful and prudent parent, would most certainly keep a wary eye on that general family.
He understood that he would be happier in the world the Corleones had created than in the world outside.
