50 Al Capone Quotes on the Workings of Society & Crime

If you’re interested in one of the most famous gangsters who ever lived, these Al Capone quotes will give you all the information you need.

Al Capone, also known as Scarface, was an American gangster who dominated Chicago’s organized crimes for almost a decade.

His influence, power, and control reached far and wide, making him one of the most prominent gangsters in America.

Movies like The Untouchables, Capone, and more show just how groundbreaking his existence was to the world of business, mobs, and society as a whole.

He might have been a gangster boss, but we can all learn from Al Capone’s past experiences.

If you’re curious about him and his world, then make sure you check out the complete list below. We’re positive you’ll leave with some lessons on life, kindness, and more.

Begin here.

And don’t forget to check out these gangster quotes and Pablo Escobar quotes.

Best Al Capone Quotes

1. “You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun.”

2. “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. I am kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me.”

3. “Be careful who you call your friends. I’d rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies.”

4. “I’m a kind person, I’m kind to everyone, but if you are unkind to me, then kindness is not what you’ll remember me for.”

5. “You accomplish more with a smile, a handshake, and a gun than you do with just a smile and a handshake.”

6. “I am like any other man. All I do is supply a demand.”

7. “Some call it bootlegging. Some call it racketeering. I call it a business.”

Famous Al Capone Quotes

8. “In this life, all that I have is my word and my balls and I do not break them for nobody.”

9. “Hell must be a pretty swell spot because the guys that invented religion have sure been trying hard to keep everybody else out.”

10. “I am just a businessman, giving the people what they want.”

11. “I am sick and tired of publicity. I want no more of it. It puts me in a bad light. I just want to be forgotten.”

12. “Find the toughest guy in the room. Embrace him like a brother. And then slam his head against the wall.”

13. “What do you want to do, get yourself killed before you are 30? You’d better get some sense while a few of us are left alive.”

Al Capone Quotes That Will Teach You About Life and Society

14. “This American system of ours—call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you will—gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we seize it with both hands and make the most of it.”

15. “Many people in this world live a disadvantaged life. You can lessen their burdens by providing support, either materially or emotionally. Even just giving a box of chocolate can bring a glimpse of light to those in need.”

16. “Capitalism is the legitimate racket of the ruling class.”

17. “They can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money.”

Wise Al Capone Quotes to Shift Your Perspective

18. “I would rather be rich, affluent, and greedy and go to hell when I die than live in poverty on this earth.”

19. “The country wanted booze and I organized it. Why should I be called a public enemy?”

20. “When I sell liquor, it’s bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on a silver tray on Lakeshore Drive, it’s hospitality.”

21. “Capitalists believe they can take everything at the table as belonging to them.”

22. “All I ever did was sell beer and whiskey to our best people. All I ever did was supply a demand that was pretty popular. Why, the very guys that make my trade good are the ones that yell the loudest about me. Some of the leading judges use the stuff.”

23. “Bolshevism is knocking at our gates, we can’t afford to let it in. We must keep America whole and safe and unspoiled. We must keep the worker away from red literature and red ruses; we must see that his mind remains healthy.”

Al Capone Quotes for Those Curious About His World and Business

24. “People who respect nothing dread fear. It is upon fear, therefore, that I have built up my organization. But understand me correctly, please. Those who work with me are afraid of nothing. Those who work for me are kept faithful, not so much because of their pay as because they know what might be done with them if they broke faith.”

25. “Once you’re in the racket, you’re always in it. The parasites will trail you, begging for money and favors, and you can never get away from them no matter where you go.”

26. “I’m the boss. I’m going to continue to run things. They’ve been putting the roscoe on me for a good many years and I’m still healthy and happy.”

27. “I’ve been accused of every death except the casualty list of the World War.”

28. “The funny part of the whole thing is that a man in this line of business has so much company. I mean his customers. If people did not want beer and wouldn’t drink it, a fellow would be crazy for going around trying to sell it!”

29. “Why not treat our business like any other man treats his, as something to work at in the daytime and forget when he goes home at night? There’s plenty of business for everybody. Why kill each other over it?”

30. “My rackets are run on strictly American lines and they’re going to stay that way.”

31. “I’ve lost a million and a half on the horses and dice in the last two years. And the funny part is, I still like ’em, and if someone handed me another million I’d put it right in the nose of some horse that looked good to me.”

32. “Ninety percent of the people of Cook County drink and gamble and my offense has been to furnish them with those amusements. Whatever else they may say, my booze has been good and my games have been on the square.”

33. “Don’t let anybody kid you into thinking I can be run out of town. I haven’t run yet and I’m not going to.”

Short Al Capone Quotes You Need to Read Today

34. “Prohibition has made nothing but trouble.”

35. “Now I know why tigers eat their young.”

36. “Public service is my motto.”

37. “Vote early and vote often.”

38. “Racketeer? Why, the real racketeers are the banks!”

39. “It’s a racket. Those stock market guys are crooked.”

Al Capone Quotes That Will Have Your Mind Reeling

40. “You’d be surprised if you knew some of the fellows I’ve got to take care of.”

41. “They talk about me not being legitimate. Nobody’s legit, you know that and so do they. Nobody’s really on the legit when it comes down to cases.”

42. “Don’t you get the idea I’m one of those goddam radicals? Don’t get the idea I’m knocking the American system.”

Interesting Al Capone Quotes to Highlight His Unique Traits

43. “It seems like I’m responsible for every crime that takes place in this country.”

44. “I have spent the best years of my life giving people the lighter pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get is abuse, the existence of a hunted man.”

45. “I have always been opposed to violence, to shootings. I have fought, yes, but fought for peace. And I believe I can take credit for the peace that now exists in the racket game in Chicago. I believe that the people can thank me for the fact that gang killings here are probably a thing of the past.”

46. “I got nothing against the honest cop on the beat. You just have them transferred someplace where they can’t do you any harm. But don’t ever talk to me about the honor of police captains or judges. If they couldn’t be bought they wouldn’t have the job.”

More Al Capone Quotes That You Will Love

47. “It’s pretty tough when a citizen with an unblemished record must be hounded from his home by the very policemen whose salaries are paid, at least in part, from the victim’s pocket. You might say that every policeman in Chicago gets some of his bread and butter from the taxes I pay.”

48. “I never stuck up a man in my life. Neither did any of my agents ever rob anybody or burglarize any homes while they worked for me. They might have pulled plenty of jobs before they came with me or after they left me, but not while they were in my outfit.”

49. “A crook is a crook, and there’s something healthy about his frankness in the matter. But any guy who pretends he is enforcing the law and steals on his authority is a swell snake. The worst type of these punks is the big politician. You can only get a little of his time because he spends so much time covering up that no one will know that he is a thief. A hard-working crook will and can get those birds by the dozen, but right down in his heart he won’t depend on them-hates the sight of them.”

50. “Every time a boy falls off a tricycle, every time a black cat has gray kittens, every time someone stubs a toe, every time there’s a murder or a fire or the marines land in Nicaragua, the police and the newspapers holler, ‘Get Capone.’”

How Familiar Are You With Al Capone and His Business?

Al Capone was born to poor immigrant parents. To survive, he worked multiple jobs ranging from being a bowling alley pin boy, a candy store clerk, and even a cutter in a book bindery. However, Al Capone didn’t just stick to his jobs; while working, he was also part of kid gangs that made him involved in petty crime and vandalism.

He was exposed to crime and gang life ever since he was young. As he continued on this path, he eventually became infamous in the business, with his multi-million dollar operation in Chicago reaching its peak and domination in 1920. Al Capone’s also been credited to be responsible for several gruesome and violent acts in society, specifically against other gangsters.

The life of crime isn’t anything to be glorified, but Al Capone also teaches us some valuable things we can live by through his quotes. For one, he taught us to stand by our words. Never break your commitments, as this is something that tells people about your personality and morals.

We also learn to be kind but to be ready for any circumstance. As he so wisely said, “You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun.” Look at the world optimistically, but always be mindful and discerning of who you associate yourself with.

With that, we hope we were able to uncover and share a piece of Al Capone’s story with you. However violent his life might have been, we can still learn from his mistakes, regrets, and experiences. Don’t forget to share this list with your family and friends so they, too, can learn from Al Capone!

Which quote is your favorite? Did we miss any other good quotes? Share them in the comments section below!

Read Next:

Karen Danao

Hi, I’m Karen, a content curator and writer for Quote Ambition; I’m also a marketing and advertising professional. Beyond the keyboard and the screen, I’m someone who’s out to enjoy every bit that life has to offer!

Poetry, philosophy, history, and movies are all topics I love writing about! However, my true passion is in traveling, photography, and finding common ground to which everyone from different cultures can relate.

With the many places I’ve been to, I found that love, inspiration, and happiness are some things that bring people together. No matter how different we are on the outside, I’m a true believer that our emotions don’t lie; if you dig deep into our psyche, we’re all the same inside.

This belief was further amplified when I joined Quote Ambition. Through the quotes I’ve read, collected, organized, and written about, I found that humans are resilient, creative, and compassionate.

We take from each others’ hearts and courage, and it’s through our individual experiences that we learn how to rise above our challenges and pain. In so many ways, Quote Ambition is a platform that allows people from all over the world to gain the inspiration they need anytime, anywhere!

You can find me on MuckRack and LinkedIn.

2 thoughts on “50 Al Capone Quotes on the Workings of Society & Crime”

Comments are closed.