The Godfather

Experience the wisdom and life lessons of one of the greatest films of all time, The Godfather. Our collection of quotes and words of wisdom from the movie will inspire and entertain you. Discover powerful life lessons on family, loyalty, power, and the human condition, and learn from the iconic characters that have become a part of cinematic history. Join us on a journey through the world of The Godfather and let its timeless wisdom guide you.

Where these lines come from

Film line “Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” The Godfather Part III (1990), Michael Corleone to Vincent. Transcript excerpts

Film line “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” The Godfather Part II (1974), Michael Corleone to Frank Pentangeli, as a lesson from his father: “My father taught me many things here. He taught me in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” The film says “but”, not “and”. Transcript excerpts

Film line “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” The Godfather (1972), Don Vito Corleone to Johnny Fontane. Transcript excerpts

Fiction “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Not in any of the films. Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel has Don Corleone say “Revenge is a dish that tastes best when it is cold” (chapter 28). The proverb is older than the novel: its earliest known English form is in an 1846 translation of Eugène Sue’s Mathilde, “revenge is very good eaten cold, as the vulgar say”. Quote Investigator

Each line was checked against the original text, or a named translation of it, in September 2026. How we check, and what we will not quote, is set out in our editorial standards.