52+ Best Al Capone Quotes: Exclusive Selection

Alphonse Gabriel “Al” Capone, sometimes known by the nickname “Scarface”, was an American gangster and businessman who rose to fame during the prohibition era. As the most famous American gangster, he dominated organized crime in Chicago from 1925 to 1931. He was convicted on charges of income tax evasion and sentenced to jail.

Most Famous Al Capone Quotes

The country wanted booze and I organized it. Why should I be called a public enemy? Al Capone

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. Al Capone

Nobody was ever killed except outlaws, and the community is better off without them. Al Capone

You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun. Al Capone

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. Al Capone

Be careful who you call your friends. I’d rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies. Al Capone

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. Al Capone

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

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. Al Capone

You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. Al Capone

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! Al Capone

Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, I am kid to everyone, but if you are unkind to my it will not be weakness that you will remember me for. Al Copone

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. Al Capone

You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. Al Capone

Prohibition has made nothing but trouble. Al Capone

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

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. Al Capone

Capitalists believe they can take everything at the table as belonging to them. Capitalism is the legitimate racket of the ruling class. Al Capone

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

Find the toughest guy in the room. Embrace him like a brother. And then slam his head against the wall.  Al Capone

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. Al Capone

you’ll accomlish more with a kind word and a gun, than you will with a kind word alone. al capone

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. Al Capone

You can do more with a kind word and a gun than with just a kind word. Al Capone

I am like any other man. All I do is supply a demand. Al Capone

Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, my calmness for ignorance or acceptance! Al Capone

All I ever did was sell beer and whiskey to our best people. Al Capone

I got nothing against the honest cop on the beat, the kind you can’t buy. You just have to have them transferred someplace where they can’t do you any harm. Al Capone

I’m the boss. I’m going to continue to run things. They’ve been putting the roscode on me for a good many years and I’m still healthy and happy. Al Capone

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 only seize it with both hands and make the most of it. Al Capone

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? Al Capone

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. Al Capone

Some call it bootlegging. Some call it racketeering. I call it a business. Al Capone

When I sell liquor, it’s called bootlegging; when my patrons serve it on Lake Shore Drive, it’s called hospitality. Al Capone

They can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money. Al Capone

You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. Al Capone

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

My rackets are run on strictly American lines and they’re going to stay that way. Al Capone

All I ever did was supply a demand that was pretty popular. Al Capone

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

I am just a businessman, giving the people what they want. Al Capone

You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone. Al Capone

Nobody wanted Prohibition. This town voted six to one against it. Somebody had to throw some liquor on that thirst. Why not me? Al Capone

Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, I am kid to everyone, but if you are unkind to my it will not be weakness that you will remember me for. Al Copone

Hell, it’s a business. All I do is supply a public demand. I do it in the best and least harmful way I can. I can’t change the conditions. I just meet them without backing up. Al Capone

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

I’m a businessman. I’ve made my money supplying a popular demand. If I break the law, my customers are as guilty as I am. Al Capone

Find the toughest guy in the room. Embrace him like a brother. And then slam his head against the wall. Al Capone

Some of the biggest Drys in the country buy from me and have for years, so let’s stop kidding. Al Capone

you’ll accomlish more with a kind word and a gun, than you will with a kind word alone. al capone

Do not mistake my kindness for weakness, my calmness for ignorance or acceptance! Al Capone