The Godfather

The Godfather

by

Mario Puzo

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Godfather Term Analysis

Another title used by Don Vito Corleone. It is a term of endearment, respect, and authority. In the Catholic tradition, a godfather is a spiritual title bestowed upon a man by the parents of a new child. The chosen godfather takes a special interest in that child’s development and agrees to look after the child if his or her parents should die. Mario Puzo invented the title of “Godfather” for a Mafia Don to signify Vito Corleone’s power and status as a patriarchal figure to both his blood family and his crime family.

Godfather Quotes in The Godfather

The The Godfather quotes below are all either spoken by Godfather or refer to Godfather. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

It was part of the Don’s greatness that he profited from everything.

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone, Carlo Rizzi
Related Symbols: Wealth
Page Number: 16
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone, Luca Brasi
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:

“I believe in America. America has made my fortune.”

Related Characters: Amerigo Bonasera (speaker), Don Vito Corleone, Jerry Wagner and Kevin Moonan
Related Symbols: Wealth
Page Number: 25
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone (speaker), Johnny Fontane, Jack Woltz
Page Number: 34
Explanation and Analysis:

“A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.”

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone (speaker), Thomas “Tom” Hagen
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

“Even the shooting of your father was business, not personal. You should know that by now.”

Related Characters: Thomas “Tom” Hagen (speaker), Don Vito Corleone, Santino “Sonny” Corleone
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 9 Quotes

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.

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone, Michael Corleone, Kay Adams
Page Number: 112
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12 Quotes

“But you can’t get sore at him. It’s like getting sore at God.”

Related Characters: Johnny Fontane (speaker), Don Vito Corleone, Thomas “Tom” Hagen
Related Symbols: Wealth
Page Number: 159
Explanation and Analysis:
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: Peter “Pete” Clemenza, Salvatore “Sal” Tessio, Don Fanucci
Page Number: 191
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

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.

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone, Constanzia “Connie” Corleone, Carlo Rizzi
Page Number: 225
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 19 Quotes

She was quite content not to share the pain of her men, after all did they share the pain of women?

Related Characters: Santino “Sonny” Corleone, Mama Corleone, Thomas “Tom” Hagen
Page Number: 254
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

Nothing was more calming, more conducive to pure reason, than the atmosphere of money.

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone, Thomas “Tom” Hagen, Emilio Barzini, Phillip Tattaglia
Page Number: 267
Explanation and Analysis:

“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.”

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone (speaker), Thomas “Tom” Hagen, Emilio Barzini, Phillip Tattaglia
Page Number: 278
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 28 Quotes

“Revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold.”

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone (speaker), Santino “Sonny” Corleone, Michael Corleone, Thomas “Tom” Hagen, Peter “Pete” Clemenza, Salvatore “Sal” Tessio, Emilio Barzini, Phillip Tattaglia, Bruno Tattaglia
Page Number: 387
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 29 Quotes

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.

Related Characters: Don Vito Corleone, Michael Corleone, Kay Adams
Page Number: 394
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 30 Quotes

He understood that he would be happier in the world the Corleones had created than in the world outside.

Related Characters: Michael Corleone, Albert “Al” Neri
Page Number: 407
Explanation and Analysis:
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Godfather Term Timeline in The Godfather

The timeline below shows where the term Godfather appears in The Godfather. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
Masculinity and Patriarchy Theme Icon
...tanuts him before locking herself in the bedroom. The humiliated Johnny decides that only “his Godfather Corleone” can save him from his despair. (full context)
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
...Katherine. Nazorine knows there is “only one man who could arrange such an affair. The Godfather. Don Corleone.” (full context)
Power Theme Icon
At the hospital, Genco implores the “Godfather” Don Corleone to save him from death. The Don admits that such an act is... (full context)
Chapter 2
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
...Hagen for securing him the role in Woltz’s new movie and vows to get his Godfather a lavish Christmas gift. Michael also calls to tell Hagen that he and Kay will... (full context)
Chapter 14
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
The narrative shifts backward in time to explore the Godfather’s origins. The Godfather was born Vito Andolini in the village of Corleone, in turn-of-the-century Sicily.... (full context)
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
...wealth by smuggling alcohol from Canada into the United States. In his neighborhood, Vito becomes Godfather to people in the neighborhood by performing services in exchange for their loyalty to him.... (full context)
Chapter 18
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
Hagen tells Bonasera, “you owe the Don a service,” and instructs him to meet the Godfather at his funeral parlor in one hour. At the funeral home, Bonasera waits for Don... (full context)
Chapter 20
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
...knows: Barzini was behind Sollozzo and is still allied with the Tattaglias. Understanding that the Godfather is concocting a plan to deal with Barzini, Tom expects “a day of reckoning” in... (full context)
Chapter 23
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
...inhabited.” Under Mafia rule, “Merit meant nothing. Talent meant nothing. Work meant nothing. The Mafia Godfather gave you your profession as a gift.” Michael contrasts Sicily’s natural beauty—botanical flowers, sunshine, and... (full context)
Chapter 27
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
...times per year for weeklong engagements to draw in visitors. “I’ll do anything for my Godfather, you know that, Mike,” Johnny responds. Next, Michael promises Jules a surgeon’s job in a... (full context)
Chapter 29
Crime and Justice Theme Icon
Power Theme Icon
Family Theme Icon
Loyalty and Betrayal Theme Icon
...are worth ten regimes.” A day before the scheduled meeting with Barzini, Michael stands as Godfather to Connie and Carlo’s child at a baptism ceremony. “I think Carlo and Mike are... (full context)