How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from The Godfather.
Quote #1
DON CORLEONE: I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.
Here it is—the classic line. Part of its inherent irony is that while an "offer you can't refuse" sounds like it might be so amazing you'd be silly to refuse it, in this case, it probably means holding a gun to your head and forcing you to do something.
Quote #2
MICHAEL: My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a president or senator.
KAY: Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don't have men killed.
MICHAEL: Oh. Who's being naive, Kay?
Michael takes a pretty cynical view of politics. In his view, a politician who starts a war or causes the loss of life for personal gain or impure motives is no different than a mafia boss… Maybe he has a point? Sounds kind of like House of Cards.
Quote #3
TOM HAGEN: The Senator called, he apologized for not coming but said that you would understand; also some of the judges. They've all sent gifts.
Highlighting Michael's point from Quote #2, Don Corleone has friends who are politicians and are in cahoots with his criminal enterprise. Success seems to correlate with dishonesty and treachery.