--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unless you are absolutely positive that…" description: "\"Unless you are absolutely positive that your wife has no connection to the Mafia, even three or four times removed, do yourself a favor and do not bet ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa5/joseph-d-pistone-24411_connection_unless-you-are-absolutely-positive-that_147886.jpg" --- # Unless you are absolutely positive that your wife has no… ![“Unless you are absolutely positive that your wife has no connection to the Mafia, even three or four times removed, do yourself a favor and do not bet her in a poker hand.” quote by Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa5/joseph-d-pistone-24411_connection_unless-you-are-absolutely-positive-that_147886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa5/joseph-d-pistone-24411_connection_unless-you-are-absolutely-positive-that_147886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa5/joseph-d-pistone-24411_connection_unless-you-are-absolutely-positive-that_147886.jpg) > “Unless you are absolutely positive that your wife has no connection to the Mafia, even three or four times removed, do yourself a favor and do not bet her in a poker hand.” [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid risking personal relationships in high‑stakes games when hidden ties may exist. **In simple terms:** Don’t gamble with family if any mafia link is possible. Key Takeaway Never bet your spouse in poker. Themes trust risk family gambling Mood cautious pragmatic Type advice warning When to use this quote - family gatherings - card games - business negotiations - social events Key Concepts ethical decision‑making risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How would you verify hidden affiliations? - What alternatives exist to protect relationships? A Different Perspective If the connection is uncertain, avoidance may be overly cautious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Mafia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mafia/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Poker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poker/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [There's more at risk in what happens in Microsoft than I could ever bet on a poker table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-einhorn/there-s-more-at-risk-in-what-happens-in-microsoft-than-i-could-ever/) [David Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-einhorn/) > ['Our thing' is turning into 'my thing' within the Mafia, just as the larger American society is facing the new realities of the 'me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/our-thing-is-turning-into-my-thing-within-the-mafia-just-as-the/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I grew up in a city, an Italian, knowing what the Mafia was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-grew-up-in-a-city-an-italian-knowing-what-the-mafia-was/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I was Donnie Brasco, the Mafia guy, in character. But in my head, I was a special agent. I never lost sight of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-was-donnie-brasco-the-mafia-guy-in-character-but-in-my-head-i-was-a/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [One thing I take great pride in is that my case was the one that started the decline of the Mafia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/one-thing-i-take-great-pride-in-is-that-my-case-was-the-one-that/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [Stupid I-tai, bring a knife to a gun fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stupid-i-tai-bring-a-knife-to-a-gun-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you get to political machines that can control a state, then you're really into organized crime - almost. You're fighting a political mafia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-capra/when-you-get-to-political-machines-that-can-control-a-state-then-you/) [Frank Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-capra/) > [International affairs is very much run like the mafia. The godfather does not accept disobedience, even from a small storekeeper who doesn't pay his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/international-affairs-is-very-much-run-like-the-mafia-the-godfather/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [As long as I could remember I always wanted to be a gangster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hill/as-long-as-i-could-remember-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-gangster/) [Henry Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hill/) > [“I was standing by the car when two police officers showed up in the alley, very interested in me and the BMW in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-adam-nyapi/i-was-standing-by-the-car-when-two-police-officers-showed-up-in-the/) [Tomas Adam Nyapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-adam-nyapi/) > [I spent much of my prison time reading. I must have read over 200 large books, mostly fictional stories about the American pioneers, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frazier-glenn-miller-jr/i-spent-much-of-my-prison-time-reading-i-must-have-read-over-200/) Frazier Glenn Miller, Jr > [“They have secret weapons that break the heart of innocents, elevate stress levels, shoot down to make it look guilt. They can burn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-karvouni/they-have-secret-weapons-that-break-the-heart-of-innocents-elevate/) [Maria Karvouni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-karvouni/) > [Some newspapers in Britain have become closer to these kind of mafia families. They wield an incredible power. They choose our governments, they choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/some-newspapers-in-britain-have-become-closer-to-these-kind-of-mafia/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [If you think about the traditional mafia stories we grew up on, it is always about the death of criminal organisations - things like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-watkins/if-you-think-about-the-traditional-mafia-stories-we-grew-up-on-it-is/) [James Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-watkins/) > [I'm very proud of being Italian-American, but people don't realize that the mafia is just this aberration. The real community is built on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chazz-palminteri/i-m-very-proud-of-being-italian-american-but-people-don-t-realize/) [Chazz Palminteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chazz-palminteri/) ## More by Joseph D. Pistone > [A good undercover agent stays as close to the truth as possible, as close to your own personality and your own values as possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/a-good-undercover-agent-stays-as-close-to-the-truth-as-possible-as/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [One thing I take great pride in is that my case was the one that started the decline of the Mafia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/one-thing-i-take-great-pride-in-is-that-my-case-was-the-one-that/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I was Donnie Brasco, the Mafia guy, in character. But in my head, I was a special agent. I never lost sight of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-was-donnie-brasco-the-mafia-guy-in-character-but-in-my-head-i-was-a/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [With wiseguys, you don't know a guy by his name, only by his nickname. You never asked a guy for his last name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/with-wiseguys-you-don-t-know-a-guy-by-his-name-only-by-his-nickname/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > ['Donnie Brasco' was 85 percent on the money. The only thing that they slanted was my feelings for Lefty and Sonny', and this idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/donnie-brasco-was-85-percent-on-the-money-the-only-thing-that-they/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I'm always leery about bumping into somebody. One time I was with my wife in a restaurant, I saw somebody from my undercover days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-m-always-leery-about-bumping-into-somebody-one-time-i-was-with-my/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > ['The Godfather' is a great movie, but it gives them too much credit. What you don't see is what really takes place: the in-fighting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/the-godfather-is-a-great-movie-but-it-gives-them-too-much-credit-what/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I rarely carried a gun undercover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-rarely-carried-a-gun-undercover/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [As a teen-ager I played cards, shot craps, played pool, went to the track, hung around social clubs. I knew that some card and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/as-a-teen-ager-i-played-cards-shot-craps-played-pool-went-to-the/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I knew how wiseguys acted. I knew the mentality. I knew things to do and not to do. Keep your mouth shut at certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-knew-how-wiseguys-acted-i-knew-the-mentality-i-knew-things-to-do/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I didn't try to be a tough guy. I didn't try to be a big mobster. I was who I was. I didn't stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-didn-t-try-to-be-a-tough-guy-i-didn-t-try-to-be-a-big-mobster-i-was/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I left a lot of personal stuff out of 'Donnie Brasco.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-left-a-lot-of-personal-stuff-out-of-donnie-brasco/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [Watching the dailies and then watching the... episodes, it really hits you: 'Damn, I did that?' I must have been crazy to get into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/watching-the-dailies-and-then-watching-the-episodes-it-really-hits/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [When you wear a wire, you're always in danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/when-you-wear-a-wire-you-re-always-in-danger/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) > [I grew up in a city, an Italian, knowing what the Mafia was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-d-pistone/i-grew-up-in-a-city-an-italian-knowing-what-the-mafia-was/) [Joseph D. Pistone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-d-pistone/) [Explore all 24 Joseph D. 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We don't want to make that connection that these chemicals, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-brockovich/i-believe-that-we-have-a-huge-problem-with-the-water-in-america-we/) [Erin Brockovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-brockovich/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/) [Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/) > [“Your passion is your connection to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/your-passion-is-your-connection-to-god/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [Religion is no longer a connection point for most people. Our communities were built on coming together in physical locations once a week or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-mckelvey/religion-is-no-longer-a-connection-point-for-most-people-our/) [Miguel McKelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-mckelvey/) > [“A man becomes creative, whether he is an artist or a scientist, when he finds a new unity in the variety of nature. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/a-man-becomes-creative-whether-he-is-an-artist-or-a-scientist-when-he/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“If you cannot wait for time to unearth roots, you must dig.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelou-keramati/if-you-cannot-wait-for-time-to-unearth-roots-you-must-dig/) Nelou Keramati > [“As a species, we are hardwired for connection. We are our best selves when we are sharing and communicating with others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-henry/as-a-species-we-are-hardwired-for-connection-we-are-our-best-selves/) [Tyler Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-henry/) > [“If you feel you don’t know the right people, turn to the next person you see on the street and introduce yourself—that connection could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-davis-jr/if-you-feel-you-don-t-know-the-right-people-turn-to-the-next-person/) [Raoul Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-davis-jr/) > [I'm uninterested in superheroes. 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I kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cronenberg/i-don-t-mind-writing-so-i-didn-t-find-that-difficult-it-s-just-a/) [David Cronenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cronenberg/) [Browse all 1,649 Connection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Unless you are absolutely positive that your wife has no connection to the Mafia, even three or four times removed, do yourself a favor and do not bet her in a poker hand.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph D. 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