45 Al Capone Quotes from the Crime Czar of the 1920s

By Sckylar Gibby-Brown | Published August 26, 2023

Al Capone, also known as Scarface, was an infamous crime boss during the prohibition era in the United States.

Here are some of the most notorious Al Capone quotes.

Born in 1899, Al Capone started drifting toward a life of crime at the age of 14.

Capone dropped out of school after striking a teacher and began to work small, labor jobs to earn his way.

Soon after, he joined the James Street Boys, a gang run by Johnny Torrio.

Quickly, Capone climbed the ranks and followed Torrio to Chicago in 1920.

Together, Torrio and Capone took over the Colosimo mob and grew their power by distributing liquor and running gambling joints and brothels.

When Torrio retired to Italy in 1925, Capone took leadership of the gang.

The mob became known as the Capone mob, and Capone became known as the Crime Czar of Chicago.

In 1931, Capone was convicted of five counts of tax evasion. He died of cardiac arrest on January 25, 1947.

Don’t forget to also check out these Scarface quotes about being the tough guy.

Check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily inspiration.

Check out our inspirational quotes category page for more inspirational life quotes.

Famous Al Capone quotes about his crimes

1. “The country wanted booze and I organized it. Why should I be called a public enemy?” — Al Capone

2. “Nobody was ever killed except outlaws, and the community is better off without them.” — Al Capone

3. “It’s pretty tough when a citizen with an unblemished record must be hounded from his home by the very policemen whose salaries are paid, at least in part, from the victim’s pocket. You might say that every policeman in Chicago gets some of his bread and butter from the taxes I pay.” — Al Capone

4. “Once you’re in the racket, you’re always in it. The parasites will trail you, begging for money and favors, and you can never get away from them no matter where you go.” — Al Capone

5. “I never stuck up a man in my life. Neither did any of my agents ever rob anybody or burglarize any homes while they worked for me. They might have pulled plenty of jobs before they came with me or after they left me, but not while they were in my outfit.” — Al Capone

6. “The funny part of the whole thing is that a man in this line of business has so much company. I mean his customers. If people did not want beer and wouldn’t drink it, a fellow would be crazy for going around trying to sell it!” — Al Capone

7. “I have always been opposed to violence, to shootings. I have fought, yes, but fought for peace. And I believe I can take credit for the peace that now exists in the racket game in Chicago. I believe that the people can thank me for the fact that gang killings here are probably a thing of the past.” — Al Capone

8. “Prohibition has made nothing but trouble.” — Al Capone

9. “A crook is a crook, and there’s something healthy about his frankness in the matter. But any guy who pretends he is enforcing the law and steals on his authority is a swell snake. The worst type of these punks is the big politician. You can only get a little of his time because he spends so much time covering up that no one will know that he is a thief. A hard-working crook will and can get those birds by the dozen, but right down in his heart he won’t depend on them-hates the sight of them.” — Al Capone

10. “When I sell liquor, it’s bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on a silver tray on Lakeshore Drive, it’s hospitality.” — Al Capone

11. “Why, the very guys that make my trade good are the ones that yell the loudest about me. Some of the leading judges use the stuff.” — Al Capone

12. “I got nothing against the honest cop on the beat. You just have them transferred someplace where they can’t do you any harm. But don’t ever talk to me about the honor of police captains or judges. If they couldn’t be bought they wouldn’t have the job.” — Al Capone

13. “I am like any other man. All I do is supply a demand.” — Al Capone

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Al Capone quotes about how it was all just business

14. “All I ever did was sell beer and whiskey to our best people.” — Al Capone

15. “I’m the boss. I’m going to continue to run things. They’ve been putting the roscode on me for a good many years and I’m still healthy and happy.” — Al Capone

16. “Why not treat our business like any other man treats his, as something to work at in the daytime and forget when he goes home at night? There’s plenty of business for everybody. Why kill each other over it?” — Al Capone

17. “Some call it bootlegging. Some call it racketeering. I call it a business.” — Al Capone

18. “They can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money.” — Al Capone

19. “They talk about me not being legitimate. Nobody’s on the legit, you know that and so do they. Nobody’s really-on the legit when it comes down to cases.” — Al Capone

20. “All I ever did was supply a demand that was pretty popular.” — Al Capone

21. “I am just a businessman, giving the people what they want.” — Al Capone

22. “Nobody wanted Prohibition. This town voted six to one against it. Somebody had to throw some liquor on that thirst. Why not me?” — Al Capone

23. “Hell, it’s a business… All I do is supply a public demand. I do it in the best and least harmful way I can. I can’t change the conditions. I just meet them without backing up.” — Al Capone

24. “I’m a businessman. I’ve made my money supplying a popular demand. If I break the law, my customers are as guilty as I am.” — Al Capone

25. “Some of the biggest Drys in the country buy from me and have for years, so let’s stop kidding.” — Al Capone

Best Al Capone Quotes

26. “Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness. I am kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me.” — Al Capone

27. “You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun.” ― Al Capone

28. “Be careful who you call your friends. I’d rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies.” ― Al Capone

29. “You can get much further with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.” ― Al Capone

30. “Find the toughest guy in the room. Embrace him like a brother. And then slam his head against the wall.” — Al Capone

31. “You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.” ― Al Capone

32. “You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.” ― Al Capone

33. “Ninety percent of the people of Cook County drink and gamble and my offense has been to furnish them with those amusements. Whatever else they may say, my booze has been good and my games have been on the square.” ― Al Capone

34. “Don’t let anybody kid you into thinking I can be run out of town. I haven’t run yet and I’m not going to.” — Al Capone

35. “Every time a boy falls off a tricycle, every time a black cat has gray kittens, every time someone stubs a toe, every time there’s a murder or a fire or the marines land in Nicaragua, the police and the newspapers holler, ‘Get Capone.’” — Al Capone

Short Al Capone Quotes

36. “Now I know why tigers eat their young.” — Al Capone

37. “Public service is my motto.” — Al Capone

38. “Vote early and vote often.” — Al Capone

39. “Racketeer? Why, the real racketeers are the banks!” — Al Capone

40. “It’s a racket. Those stock market guys are crooked.” — Al Capone

41. “Many people in this world live a disadvantaged life” — Al Capone

42. “Capitalism is the legitimate racket of the ruling class.” — Al Capone

43. “It seems like I’m responsible for every crime that takes place in this country.” — Al Capone

44. “I don’t even know what street Canada is on.” ― Al Capone

45. “I am sick and tired of publicity.” — Al Capone

Why was he called Scarface?

Like most powerful mob bosses, Capone was a terrifying, violent man who kept his followers loyal through fear.

It was well known that he used violence to silence his enemies, keep eyewitnesses quiet, and control the power within his gang.

In addition to his reputation, Capone also had a menacing-looking scar that stretched across his cheek.

This scar was the incident of a violent scrap Capone caused when he was 21.

While serving as a bartender at a brothel saloon called the Harvard Inn, Capone insulted young gang member Frank Gallucio’s sister, causing Gallucio to lash out with a knife in retaliation.

Though Capone rose to infamy quickly, he was arrested and imprisoned in 1932 at the age of 33.

He served seven years.

By the time he was released, his brain had become deteriorated due to the effects of syphilis.