I was Donnie Brasco, the Mafia guy, in character. But in my head, I was a special agent. I never lost sight… — Joseph D. Pistone Character Copy Share Image
One thing I take great pride in is that my case was the one that started the decline of the Mafia. — Joseph D. Pistone Case Copy Share Image
With wiseguys, you don't know a guy by his name, only by his nickname. You never asked a guy for his last… — Joseph D. Pistone His Copy Share Image
Watching the dailies and then watching the... episodes, it really hits you: 'Damn, I did that?' I must have been crazy to… — Joseph D. Pistone Crazy Copy Share Image
I'm always leery about bumping into somebody. One time I was with my wife in a restaurant, I saw somebody from my… — Joseph D. Pistone Always Copy Share Image
As a teen-ager I played cards, shot craps, played pool, went to the track, hung around social clubs. I knew that some… — Joseph D. Pistone Cards Copy Share Image
'Donnie Brasco' was 85 percent on the money. The only thing that they slanted was my feelings for Lefty and Sonny', and… — Joseph D. Pistone Conflict Copy Share Image
I knew how wiseguys acted. I knew the mentality. I knew things to do and not to do. Keep your mouth shut… — Joseph D. Pistone Business Copy Share Image
A good undercover agent stays as close to the truth as possible, as close to your own personality and your own values… — Joseph D. Pistone Character Copy Share Image
'The Godfather' is a great movie, but it gives them too much credit. What you don't see is what really takes place:… — Joseph D. Pistone Credit Copy Share Image
I grew up in a city, an Italian, knowing what the Mafia was. — Joseph D. Pistone City Copy Share Image
What I learned about the mob wasn't through lectures at the academy. — Joseph D. Pistone About Copy Share Image
If you're an L.C.N. guy, you don't have facial hair and you don't have long hair. You have to be neat all… — Joseph D. Pistone Facial hair Copy Share Image
I had no sense of guilt. All during the course of the operation, I knew it was a job. — Joseph D. Pistone Guilt Copy Share Image
Unless you are absolutely positive that your wife has no connection to the Mafia, even three or four times removed, do yourself… — Joseph D. Pistone Connection Copy Share Image
'Our thing' is turning into 'my thing' within the Mafia, just as the larger American society is facing the new realities of… — Joseph D. Pistone American Copy Share Image
I didn't try to be a tough guy. I didn't try to be a big mobster. I was who I was. I… — Joseph D. Pistone Big Copy Share Image
In the actual story I got with the Bonannos, but I had dealings with other crime families and other criminals, using the… — Joseph D. Pistone Credibility Copy Share Image
You have to have faith and confidence in yourself, that you are better than the bad guys you're dealing with. You have… — Joseph D. Pistone Bad Copy Share Image
I do a lot of lecturing, at colleges and police schools, and I always get the same questions: 'Do they really kill… — Joseph D. Pistone Always Copy Share Image
I was a street guy. I mean, I grew up in an Italian neighborhood with mob guys around. Where I grew up,… — Joseph D. Pistone Cards Copy Share Image
