Original artwork, not a still
Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
— The Godfather Part II · 1974
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Michael is quoting his father, and the proverb is his method: smile at the man you plan to destroy. It marks his shift from reluctant son to a colder Don than Vito, and the film makes him pay for it with betrayal inside his own family. The saying is often credited to Sun Tzu or Machiavelli, but the Godfather made it a boardroom cliche.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The Godfather Part IIShow the scene
In The Godfather Part II (1974), Michael Corleone survives an assassination attempt at his Lake Tahoe compound and suspects a traitor in his own family. Corleone capo Frank Pentangeli asks for help against Hyman Roth's affiliates, the Rosato brothers, and Michael refuses. In a later scene Michael explains his thinking: his father taught him this lesson in that very room. If Roth sees Michael helping the Rosatos, he will think their friendship is still good, and Michael wants Roth relaxed and confident while he finds out who the traitor is.
Sources (2)
- Wikipedia: The Godfather Part IIPlotReference checked
- Wikiquote: The Godfather Part IIMichael CorleoneReference checked
Context reviewed
