--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And in that fraction of a second before…" description: "\"And in that fraction of a second before anything actually happened, Santino Corleone knew he was a dead man.\" — Mario Puzo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before_1791284.png" --- # And in that fraction of a second before anything actually… ![“And in that fraction of a second before anything actually happened, Santino Corleone knew he was a dead man.” quote by Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before_1791284.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before_1791284.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before_1791284.png) > “And in that fraction of a second before anything actually happened, Santino Corleone knew he was a dead man.” [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character realizes his fate is sealed before any action occurs. **In simple terms:** He knows he’s doomed early. Key Takeaway Recognize signs of impending danger. Themes fate danger anticipation Mood dramatic foreboding Type literary psychological When to use this quote - crime investigations - high‑stakes negotiations - personal crises Key Concepts Narrative tension character insight Questions to Reflect On - What early warnings do you ignore? - Can awareness change a doomed outcome? A Different Perspective Not all outcomes are inevitable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-happened-376707/) [Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corleone/) [Corleone Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corleone-knew-1948095/) [Dead man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-man/) [Fractions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fractions/) [Happened Santino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened-santino-1948096/) [Knew Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-dead-287291/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [The other Dons in the room applauded and rose to shake hands with everybody in sight and to congratulate Don Corleone and Don Tattaglia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/the-other-dons-in-the-room-applauded-and-rose-to-shake-hands-with/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Even as a young man, Vito Corleone became known as a "man of reasonableness." He never uttered a threat. He always used logic that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/even-as-a-young-man-vito-corleone-became-known-as-a-man-of/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [She emptied her mind of all thought of herself, of her children, of all anger, of all rebellion, of all questions. Then with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/she-emptied-her-mind-of-all-thought-of-herself-of-her-children-of-all/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.- Don Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/friendship-is-everything-friendship-is-more-than-talent-it-is-more-3/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [I like to drink wine more than I used to. Anyway, I'm drinking more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/i-like-to-drink-wine-more-than-i-used-to-anyway-i-m-drinking-more/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [If anything in this life is certain...if history has taught us anything, it's that you cn kill anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/if-anything-in-this-life-is-certain-if-history-has-taught-us-anything/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“Tom, don't let anybody kid you. It's all personal, every bit of business. Every piece of shit every man has to eat every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/tom-don-t-let-anybody-kid-you-it-s-all-personal-every-bit-of-business/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Every man has but one destiny" Veto Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/every-man-has-but-one-destiny-veto-corleone/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Fredo, you're my older brother and I love you. But don't ever take sides against the Family again. Ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/fredo-you-re-my-older-brother-and-i-love-you-but-don-t-ever-take-3/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [No, that's not possible," Michael said. "Killed, yes; jail, no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/no-that-s-not-possible-michael-said-killed-yes-jail-no/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Why should I be afraid now? Strange men have come to kill me ever since I was twelve years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/why-should-i-be-afraid-now-strange-men-have-come-to-kill-me-ever/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [It was from this experience came his oft-repeated belief that every man has but one destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/it-was-from-this-experience-came-his-oft-repeated-belief-that-every/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming We're finally on our own This summer I hear the drumming Four dead in Ohio Gotta get down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/tin-soldiers-and-nixon-s-coming-we-re-finally-on-our-own-this-summer/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [“You are not dead, until every person who knew you is dead as well." Where did I hear that? It doesn't matter. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-are-not-dead-until-every-person-who-knew-you-is-dead-as-well/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Life: One thing led to another, and before we knew it, we were dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-donoghue/life-one-thing-led-to-another-and-before-we-knew-it-we-were-dead/) [Michael O'Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-donoghue/) ## More by Mario Puzo > [“There are things that have to be done and you do them and you never talk about them.They can't be justified.You just do them.Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/there-are-things-that-have-to-be-done-and-you-do-them-and-you-never/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [He had long ago learned that society imposes insults that must be borne, comforted by the knowledge that in this world there comes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/he-had-long-ago-learned-that-society-imposes-insults-that-must-be/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“going to the mattresses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/going-to-the-mattresses/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [I want to tell you a story. I have no other vanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/i-want-to-tell-you-a-story-i-have-no-other-vanity/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“Wasn't it true that Sometimes the greatest misfortunes brought unforseen rewards? -Don Corleone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/wasn-t-it-true-that-sometimes-the-greatest-misfortunes-brought/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“Pope Alexander smiled. He seemed more amused with the story than horrified. "The Baglioni are true believers," he said. "They believe in paradise. Such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/pope-alexander-smiled-he-seemed-more-amused-with-the-story-than/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [It was a lie but he believed in telling lies to people. Truth telling and medicine just didn't go together except in dire emergencies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/it-was-a-lie-but-he-believed-in-telling-lies-to-people-truth-telling/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [God seemed to be having a hard time killing him, and he'd be damned if he was going to make the job easy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/god-seemed-to-be-having-a-hard-time-killing-him-and-he-d-be-damned-if/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“Everything you do in life use percentage as your god.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/everything-you-do-in-life-use-percentage-as-your-god/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“But up until that time I want you just to follow my lead and don’t worry. There are negotiations going on that will solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/but-up-until-that-time-i-want-you-just-to-follow-my-lead-and-don-t/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“My dear Guiliano," he said, "how is it that you and Don Croce do not join together to rule Sicily? He has the wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/my-dear-guiliano-he-said-how-is-it-that-you-and-don-croce-do-not-join/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“It pleased him to see the hurt look on her face, the tears springing into her eyes. She might be a daughter of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/it-pleased-him-to-see-the-hurt-look-on-her-face-the-tears-springing/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“We are not responsible to the .90 calibers the pezzonovantis who take it upon themselves to decide what we shall do with out lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/we-are-not-responsible-to-the-90-calibers-the-pezzonovantis-who-take/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“I do not seek it or desire it. If I must, I will accept the punishment for all my sins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/i-do-not-seek-it-or-desire-it-if-i-must-i-will-accept-the-punishment/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/friendship-is-everything-friendship-is-more-than-talent-it-is-more/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) [Explore all 171 Mario Puzo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) ## More Corleone quotes > [There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-pacino/there-are-many-things-my-father-taught-me-here-in-this-room-he-taught/) [Al Pacino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-pacino/) > [It was from this experience came his oft-repeated belief that every man has but one destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/it-was-from-this-experience-came-his-oft-repeated-belief-that-every/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Why should I be afraid now? Strange men have come to kill me ever since I was twelve years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/why-should-i-be-afraid-now-strange-men-have-come-to-kill-me-ever/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [ I was talking about \[Donald\] Trump and certain things he was saying, that he wanted to go into Iraq and just "take the oil."… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/i-was-talking-about-donald-trump-and-certain-things-he-was-saying/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Let's put it in old movie Mafia terms. There are guys that are in position to get by but they didn't wait their turn.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/let-s-put-it-in-old-movie-mafia-terms-there-are-guys-that-are-in/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [No, that's not possible," Michael said. "Killed, yes; jail, no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/no-that-s-not-possible-michael-said-killed-yes-jail-no/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Fredo, you're my older brother and I love you. But don't ever take sides against the Family again. Ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/fredo-you-re-my-older-brother-and-i-love-you-but-don-t-ever-take-3/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [I still think Ned Beatty should've played Don Corleone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ford-coppola/i-still-think-ned-beatty-should-ve-played-don-corleone/) [Francis Ford Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ford-coppola/) > [Every man has but one destiny" Veto Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/every-man-has-but-one-destiny-veto-corleone/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [Do we root for Michael Corleone in the 'Godfather' films? I think so, even if he is a monster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-audiard/do-we-root-for-michael-corleone-in-the-godfather-films-i-think-so/) [Jacques Audiard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-audiard/) > [“Tom, don't let anybody kid you. It's all personal, every bit of business. Every piece of shit every man has to eat every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/tom-don-t-let-anybody-kid-you-it-s-all-personal-every-bit-of-business/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [They called me Veto Corleone. Because I vetoed 2,500 separate line-items in the budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/they-called-me-veto-corleone-because-i-vetoed-2-500-separate-line/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [In a new campaign ad, Jeb Bush referenced 'The Godfather' and said his nickname used to be 'Veto Corleone' because he vetoed so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/in-a-new-campaign-ad-jeb-bush-referenced-the-godfather-and-said-his/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [I was up for Michael Corleone in 'The Godfather,' but, as I was only 10 at the time, I think Mr. Coppola made the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/i-was-up-for-michael-corleone-in-the-godfather-but-as-i-was-only-10/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [If anything in this life is certain...if history has taught us anything, it's that you cn kill anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/if-anything-in-this-life-is-certain-if-history-has-taught-us-anything/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) [Browse all 21 Corleone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corleone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And in that fraction of a second before anything actually happened, Santino Corleone knew he was a dead man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mario Puzo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before-anything-actually-happened/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Corleone" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before-anything-actually-happened/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before_1791284.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before_1791284.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9bc/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before_1791284.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And in that fraction of a second before anything actually happened, Santino Corleone knew he was a dead man.” — Mario Puzo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mario Puzo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And in that fraction of a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before-anything-actually-happened/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before-anything-actually-happened/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```