Mario Puzo, (1920-1999) Novelist Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page Mario Puzo Quote “A lawyer with a briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns.”Mario Puzo ~ Mario Puzo (1920-1999) NovelistThe Godfather Arms , Corruption , Crime , Guns , Justice , Law Ratings and Comments Reply Anonymous, Reston, VA US 4/24/07 ... but a lawyer with a briefcase will not always be a crook, and does not take your life. Likewise, moral, ethical, sane men with guns are not to be feared. 1 Reply E Archer, NYC 4/24/07 Ain't that the truth! Reply Bob, Eugene, OR 4/24/07 Still, I'd usually like to retain that lawyer! 1 Reply EGL, LA 4/24/07 Taken as one more lawyer joke it is a good quote-but my lawyers have done far more good for me then otherwise.Certainly applies to lawyer lobbyists running DC. 1 Reply Mike, Norwalk 4/24/07 As with any group, there are good ones and bad ones. When they move into politics some will even kill indiscriminately. 1 Reply Ken, Allyn, WA 4/24/07 The law can be a shield or a weapon. It can be used as a shield by both the innocent and the guilty. Likewise, it can be used as a weapon against the innocent and guilty. Lawyers are simply the hired mercenaries. Reply Jack, Green, OH 4/24/07 Stupid analogy. Does he really mean it can happen, or is he suggesting it always happens? Of course, it's possible but means nothing -- and what does a briefcase have to do with it?. 1 Reply Lawyer, NY Jack, Green, OH 11/24/20 It's a briefcase and knowledge he's focused on. Not a gun and violence. Get smart. 1 Reply JT Ready, Mesa, AZ 4/24/07 Lawyers do take life, liberty, and property all day long. 1 Reply Ken, Allyn, WA 4/24/07 A lawyer's briefcase can come loaded with all manner of legal ammunition that can steal your property or your life. 2Reply Jack, Green, OH 4/24/07 Then, if the lawyer doesn't have his briefcase he's harmless? Does he need that, as a robber needs a weapon, or can't steal? It means nothing ...like the quote itself. A poorly constructed satire 2 Reply Ken, Allyn, WA 4/25/07 If a robber doesn't have a gun is he necessarily harmless? A robber can beat you with his fists, just as a lawyer can beat you with his mind. 1 Reply jim k, Austin, Tx 1/21/13 Anonymous and Jack Green, as usual you miss the point. And don't forget that almost all of our wonderful congress people are now or have been lawyers. Of course some are disbarred and most should be. 1 Reply Bill Fairchild, Franklin, TN, USA 1/21/13 This quote must have come from the movie. The original novel's version is even bettter: "Lawyers can steal more money with a briefcase than a thousand men with guns and masks.” [Don Vito Corleone to his son Santino]I recommend reading the entire novel, and, while doing so, look for subtle hints dropped by Don Vito, especially, as to the way the Sicilian mafiosi had come to understand their need to avoid all government interactions. They operate as an invisible nation within another nation with their own police and judicial power, moral code, business code, etc. 1 Reply E Archer, NYC 11/19/18 Crime does pay — lawyers. Everybody wants in on the racket. SaveOk2 SaveOk2 View CommentsClick to view or comment. Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print This Mario Puzo quote is found in these categories: Arms quotes Corruption quotes Crime quotes Guns quotes Justice quotes Law quotes About Mario Puzo Bio of Mario Puzo Quotations by Mario Puzo Books by/about Mario Puzo Mario Puzo videos Mario Puzo on Wikipedia Astrological chart for Mario Puzo