--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we were doing 'The Sopranos', I used…" description: "\"When we were doing 'The Sopranos', I used to love that about it. There were rules, Mafia codes you had to go by, but the code is ridiculous. It's a cod..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/david-chase-17906_code_when-we-were-doing-the-sopranos-i-used-t_1867084.jpg" --- # When we were doing 'The Sopranos', I used to love that… ![“When we were doing 'The Sopranos', I used to love that about it. There were rules, Mafia codes you had to go by, but the code is ridiculous. It's a code among sociopaths.” quote by David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/david-chase-17906_code_when-we-were-doing-the-sopranos-i-used-t_1867084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/david-chase-17906_code_when-we-were-doing-the-sopranos-i-used-t_1867084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb1/david-chase-17906_code_when-we-were-doing-the-sopranos-i-used-t_1867084.jpg) > “When we were doing 'The Sopranos', I used to love that about it. There were rules, Mafia codes you had to go by, but the code is ridiculous. It's a code among sociopaths.” [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The show’s internal rules mirror a twisted moral code among criminals, highlighting absurdities of self‑imposed ethics. **In simple terms:** Mafia codes are irrational and self‑serving. Key Takeaway Question the logic of any imposed code. Themes ethics power dynamics storytelling Mood critical intrigued Type analysis commentary When to use this quote - scriptwriting - character development - dialogue crafting Key Concepts lawlessness group identity moral relativism Questions to Reflect On - What makes a fictional moral code compelling? - How do audiences react to anti‑hero ethics? A Different Perspective Even fictional codes can rationalize harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Code Sociopaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code-sociopaths-2551160/) [Doing Sopranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-sopranos-2551162/) [Mafia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mafia/) [Mafia Codes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mafia-codes-2551161/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Rules Mafia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-mafia-2551163/) [Sociopath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sociopath/) [Sociopaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sociopaths/) [Sopranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sopranos/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Used to love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used-to-love/) ## Related quotes > [When I was doing 'The Sopranos', I liked putting music together with the film; that was my favorite part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/when-i-was-doing-the-sopranos-i-liked-putting-music-together-with-the/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I think the people running climate change denial campaigns are sociopaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-lawless/i-think-the-people-running-climate-change-denial-campaigns-are/) [Lucy Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-lawless/) > [“sociopaths are very crafty when it comes to pre-meditated crimes—they only take risks when the chances are high that they won’t get caught. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-rivers-clarence/sociopaths-are-very-crafty-when-it-comes-to-pre-meditated-crimes-they/) [T. Rivers, Clarence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-rivers-clarence/) > [“Does he train you all to be creepy sociopaths or is that a prerequisite before he hires you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-adams/does-he-train-you-all-to-be-creepy-sociopaths-or-is-that-a/) [Jocelyn Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-adams/) > [“Unfortunately, sociopaths are antisocial by nature, and their lack of empathy and foresight consigns them to view society only as a restraint on individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cannon-gibney/unfortunately-sociopaths-are-antisocial-by-nature-and-their-lack-of/) [Bruce Cannon Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cannon-gibney/) > [“Sociopath” and “psycho” were two of the most common field diagnoses for my look and expression. I heard it all the time: “I’ve read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-elder-robison/sociopath-and-psycho-were-two-of-the-most-common-field-diagnoses-for/) [John Elder Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-elder-robison/) > [“Sociopaths, or what psychiatrists call antisocial personalities, have lifelong patterns of deceitfulness for personal gain. They lack remorse and empathy and are wizards at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-small/sociopaths-or-what-psychiatrists-call-antisocial-personalities-have/) [Gary Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-small/) > [“Well, you’d better hope I am because the world was built by sociopaths, men willing to send a million innocent boys into battle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/well-you-d-better-hope-i-am-because-the-world-was-built-by-sociopaths/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [“The scientists. The technicians. Everyone you needed to make it happen. They actually had to do this. They had to watch the video of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/the-scientists-the-technicians-everyone-you-needed-to-make-it-happen/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [I went into very deep research as to what exactly that meant and how sociopaths function psychologically and within the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-heusinger/i-went-into-very-deep-research-as-to-what-exactly-that-meant-and-how/) [Patrick Heusinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-heusinger/) > [When you were a child, where boredom could actually get to be painful. Sociopaths experience that kind of pain in boredom. And so to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/when-you-were-a-child-where-boredom-could-actually-get-to-be-painful/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) > [I really like transgressive characters that have an alternate world view. I've actually written a fair number of kids movies, and I'll insert these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-nix/i-really-like-transgressive-characters-that-have-an-alternate-world/) [Matt Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-nix/) > [“Prisons are full of sociopaths and psychopaths, but when questioned, the imprisoned sociopath will honestly admit that they will commit any number of crimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-thompson/prisons-are-full-of-sociopaths-and-psychopaths-but-when-questioned/) [Tanya Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-thompson/) > [Usually sociopaths will look down upon us for that very reason - that we're gullible. We're weak. One person told me that he thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/usually-sociopaths-will-look-down-upon-us-for-that-very-reason-that/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) > [“One nurse thought I was "brave." I think she was talking about my steely-eyed, grin-and-bear-it kind of attitude. There were no tears, no complaints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/one-nurse-thought-i-was-brave-i-think-she-was-talking-about-my-steely/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) ## More by David Chase > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-lead-character-is-good-or-bad-he-just-has/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I think for anyone who follows the 'artistic life,' a certain amount of selfishness and self-involvement is part of the package. You're probably already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/i-think-for-anyone-who-follows-the-artistic-life-a-certain-amount-of/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I said it's a cold universe and I don't mean that metaphorically. If you go out into space, it's cold. It's really cold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/i-said-it-s-a-cold-universe-and-i-don-t-mean-that-metaphorically-if/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I really like comedy. There's always a choice, when you're writing: you can either go for the joke or you can go for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/i-really-like-comedy-there-s-always-a-choice-when-you-re-writing-you/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [When I was doing 'The Sopranos', I liked putting music together with the film; that was my favorite part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/when-i-was-doing-the-sopranos-i-liked-putting-music-together-with-the/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [People have said that I said I hate television. I never did say that. What I said was that I hated a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/people-have-said-that-i-said-i-hate-television-i-never-did-say-that/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I think people are intolerant of artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/i-think-people-are-intolerant-of-artists/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [People get so tired of the '60s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/people-get-so-tired-of-the-60s/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [You know, what's interesting is, being your own self is kind of a blur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/you-know-what-s-interesting-is-being-your-own-self-is-kind-of-a-blur/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I had a prior deal in place to do a miniseries for HBO, so I'm not done with TV. But I basically want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/i-had-a-prior-deal-in-place-to-do-a-miniseries-for-hbo-so-i-m-not/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [The thing about movies now is in a way what it always was: The screen is huge and now the sound systems are too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/the-thing-about-movies-now-is-in-a-way-what-it-always-was-the-screen/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [Network television is all talk. I think there should be visuals on a show, some sense of mystery to it, connections that don't add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/network-television-is-all-talk-i-think-there-should-be-visuals-on-a/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I was so besotted with '8½' that, when it was on TV, I used to take pictures with my 35-mm. camera of the frames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/i-was-so-besotted-with-8-that-when-it-was-on-tv-i-used-to-take/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [When I was a kid, I used to watch 'Laurel and Hardy' with my cousins all the time. I still think they're extremely funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-watch-laurel-and-hardy-with-my-cousins-all/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [I would imagine that the more time you spend talking to another person, the more you're going to lie to them. So if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/i-would-imagine-that-the-more-time-you-spend-talking-to-another/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) [Explore all 36 David Chase quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) ## More Code quotes > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/) [Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/) > [One of my most productive days was throwing away 1,000 lines of code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-thompson/one-of-my-most-productive-days-was-throwing-away-1-000-lines-of-code/) [Ken Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-thompson/) > [Writing code means always having to say you're sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ford/writing-code-means-always-having-to-say-you-re-sorry/) [Paul Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ford/) > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [I loved 'Chicago Code;' I watched that a lot. It was great because it really captured the city - I'm from Chicago, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/i-loved-chicago-code-i-watched-that-a-lot-it-was-great-because-it/) [Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/) > [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [When we're done simplifying the tax code, getting the lobbyist carve outs our of the tax code, lowering our rates and letting people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-we-re-done-simplifying-the-tax-code-getting-the-lobbyist-carve/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The tax code is 10 times the size of the Bible with none of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-tax-code-is-10-times-the-size-of-the-bible-with-none-of-the-good/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The Cheney team had, for example, technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. That is to say, they could read their e-mails. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wilkerson/the-cheney-team-had-for-example-technological-supremacy-over-the/) [Lawrence Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wilkerson/) > [ \[T\]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-after-year-a-symbol-of/) [Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/) > [In open source, you really have to be near the watershed to have an impact on the source code. Customers want to be near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-fenton/in-open-source-you-really-have-to-be-near-the-watershed-to-have-an/) [Peter Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-fenton/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. 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