American Gangster (2007) quotes

Cast
Denzel Washington.
Russell Crowe.
Chiwetel Ejiofor.

An outcast New York City cop is charged with bringing down Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, whose real life inspired this partly biographical film.

The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.
– Frank Lucas

Success. It’s got enemies. You can be successful and have enemies or you can be unsuccessful and have friends.
– Dominic Cattano

The most important thing in business is honesty, integrity, hardwork… family… never forgetting where we came from.
– Frank Lucas

My man.
– Frank Lucas

The man I worked for, he had one of the biggest companies in New York City- he ran it for more than fifty years. Fifteen years, eight months, nine days- I was with him every day. I looked after him, took care of him, protected him… I learned from him. Bumpy was rich, but he wasn’t white man rich, you see he wasn’t wealthy. He didn’t own his own company. He thought he did, but he didn’t. He just managed it. White man owned it so they owned him. Nobody owns me, though. Because I own my company. And my company sells a product that’s better than the competition at a price that’s lower than the competition.
– Frank Lucas

It’s not in my best interest to say this Frank, but quitting while you’re ahead, is not the same as quitting.
– Chinese General

Laurie, look, I’m sorry I never gave you the kind of life you wanted, all right. I’m sorry it was never enough. Don’t punish me for being honest. Don’t take my boy away.
– Detective Richie Roberts
What are you saying? That because you were honest and you didn’t take money like every other cop, I left you? No, you don’t take money for one reason. To buy being dishonest about everything else. And that’s worse than taking money nobody gives a shit about.Drug money, gambling money nobody’s gonna miss. You know, I’d rather you took it and been honest with me. Or don’t take it. I don’t care. But then don’t go cheat on me. Don’t cheat on your kid by never being around. Don’t go out and get laid by your snitches and your secretaries and strippers.I can tell by just looking,she’s one of them. You think you’re going to heaven because you’re honest, but you’re not You’re going to the same hell as the crooked cops you can’t stand.
– Laurie Roberts

Now, I got no problem with you showin’ up in court tomorrow with your head blown in half.
– Frank Lucas
Get in line. That one stretches around the block too.
– Detective Richie Roberts

What the fuck you gonna do Frank, huh? You gonna shoot me, in front of everybody? Huh? Come on…
– Tango

What is that you got on?
– Frank Lucas
What? This?
– Huey Lucas
Yeah, that.
– Frank Lucas
This is a very, very, very nice suit.
– Huey Lucas
That’s a very, very, very nice suit, huh?
– Frank Lucas
Yeah.
– Huey Lucas
That’s a clown suit. That’s a costume, with a big sign on it that says “Arrest me”. You understand? You’re too loud, you’re making too much noise. Listen to me, the loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room.
– Frank Lucas

Good work Frank. You… want a drink or something? Celebrate?
– Detective Richie Roberts
You got any holy water?
– Frank Lucas

The number one fear of people isn’t dying, it’s public speaking.
– Detective Richie Roberts

More important than one man’s life is order.
– Rossi

What’s this? Don’t tell me you’re actually gonna arrest Frank Lucas, are you?
– Detective Trupo
What? Haven’t you heard? We’re all fucking crazy over here. You know what we do here? Cops… arrest… bad guys. The next time you come across the bridge, you should call me first. Just make sure it’s safe.
– Detective Richie Roberts

They don’t want this to stop. It employs too many people. Cops, lawyers, judges, probation officers, prison guards… The day dope stops coming into this country, a hundred thousand people lose their jobs.
– Detective Richie Roberts

What’s the matter? Ain’t you niggas never seen naked coochie before?
– Redtop
Why they all naked?
– Huey Lucas
So they can’t steal nothin’.
– Frank Lucas

I heard a story about you that you found a million dollars in unmarked cash and you gave that shit back, is that true?
– Moses Jones

I sell a product that’s better than the competition at a price that’s less than the competition.
– Frank Lucas