Casso Noted Quote by Selwyn Raab
““Explaining his filing system to capo George Zappola, Casso noted that he catalogued top-notch car thieves under the letter C. Gaspipe’s sharp wit deflated Zappola when he asked for his classification. “Under U for useless.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Heist: A New York Crime Story” by Selwyn Raab, 1995
A mobster humorously classifies criminals, placing a top thief under “U” for useless, highlighting the absurdity of bureaucratic labeling in crime.
In simple terms: A mobster jokes that a top thief is “useless” in his filing system.
Key Takeaway
Don’t take labels too seriously.
Themes
crime
humor
bureaucracy
classification
irony
Mood
wry
ironic
critical
Type
anecdotal
satirical
When to use this quote
- Law enforcement briefings
- crime novels
- team meetings
- training seminars
Key Concepts
Organizational psychology
social labeling
gang dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do labels affect our perception of people?
- When might a label be useful versus harmful?
A Different Perspective
Labels can oversimplify complex individuals and situations.
