James "Whitey" Bulger Quotes

Although Bulger wasn't a particularly cruel kid, he was certainly known to throw hands from time to time. Of course, as we'll see, adult Bulger seems to get a disturbing amount of joy from inflicting pain on other people.

Make no mistake—Bulger isn't some sympathetic criminal who only turns to illegal activity to save his dying wife, or [insert sob story here]. He's a criminal because he loves it. He beats people up because it's fun. No wonder he rises to the rank of mob boss in record time.

The revelation of Bulger's crimes causes an explosion the likes of which is rarely seen outside of a Michael Bay movie. And for good reason. Bulger has for too long hid behind his image as an anti-hero. It's time for Southie to see his true colors.

So how does Whitey's reign of terror last so long? Remember, Southie is defined by its opposition to outsiders. For a Southie, Whitey is one of them, while the FBI, DEA, and Justice Department are just another group of feds trying to change the Southie way of life.

In Bulger's head, he's Han Solo—the good guy who doesn't play by the rules—when in fact he's straight-up Darth Vader. He's the villain. Despite its obvious absurdity, this twisted moral justification fuels Bulger's criminal activity throughout his career.