--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friendship is everything. Friendship is…" description: "\"Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.- Don Corleone\" — Mario Puzo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_friendship-is-everything-friendship-is-m_2867097.png" --- # Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent… ![“Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.- Don Corleone” quote by Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_friendship-is-everything-friendship-is-m_2867097.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_friendship-is-everything-friendship-is-m_2867097.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/mario-puzo-2187_corleone_friendship-is-everything-friendship-is-m_2867097.png) > “Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family.- Don Corleone” [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. Friendship surpasses talent and government, nearly equating to family. **In simple terms:** Friendship is like family. Key Takeaway Cultivate deep friendships. Themes friendship family loyalty government talent Mood warm reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - community building - political analysis - personal relationships - career networking Key Concepts social bonds ethics Questions to Reflect On - What makes a friendship feel familial? - How does loyalty compare to institutional support? A Different Perspective May romanticize friendship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Corleone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corleone/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friend/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-friendship/) [Friendship Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-talent-2142887/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-government-2470756/) ## Related quotes > [“Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It is almost the equal of family. Never forget that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/friendship-is-more-than-talent-it-is-more-than-government-it-is/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [“Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It is almost the equal of family. Never forget that. If you had built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/friendship-is-more-than-talent-it-is-more-than-government-it-is-2/) [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/) > [“Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It is almost the equal of family. Never forget that. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/friendship-is-everything-friendship-is-more-than-talent-it-is-more-2/) [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/) > [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/) > [And in that fraction of a second before anything actually happened, Santino Corleone knew he was a dead man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before-anything-actually-happened/) [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/) > [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/) ## 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/) > [And in that fraction of a second before anything actually happened, Santino Corleone knew he was a dead man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/and-in-that-fraction-of-a-second-before-anything-actually-happened/) [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/) [Browse all 21 Corleone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corleone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Friendship is everything. 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