Amsterdam Vallon Quotes in Gangs of New York (2002)

Amsterdam Vallon: When you kill a king, you don't stab him in the dark. You kill him where the entire court can watch him die.

Amsterdam Vallon: It's a funny feeling being taken under the wing of a dragon. It's warmer than you'd think.

Amsterdam Vallon: If you get all of us together, we ain't got a gang, we've got an army.

Bill: How old are you, Amsterdam?

Amsterdam Vallon: I'm not sure, sir. I never did quite figure it.

Bill: I'm forty-seven. Forty-seven years old. You know how I stayed alive this long? All these years? Fear. The spectacle of fearsome acts. Somebody steals from me, I cut off his hands. He offends me, I cut out his tongue. He rises against me, I cut off his head, stick it on a pike, raise it high up so all on the streets can see. That's what preserves the order of things. Fear.

Amsterdam Vallon: In the end, they put candles on the bodies so's their friends, if they had any, could know them in the dark. The city did this free of charge. Shang, Jimmy Spoils, Hell-cat, McGloin, and more. Friend or foe, didn't make no difference now. It was four days and nights before the worst of the mob was finally put down. We never knew how many New Yorkers died that week before the city was finally delivered. My father told me we was all born of blood and tribulation, and so then too was our great city. But for those of us what lived and died in them furious days, it was like everything we knew was mightily swept away. And no matter what they did to build this city up again... for the rest of time... it would be like no one ever knew we was even here.

Bill: You. Whatever your name is... what is your name?

Amsterdam Vallon: Amsterdam, sir.

Bill: Amsterdam... I'm New York... don't you never come in here empty handed again, you gotta pay for the pleasure of my company.

Amsterdam Vallon: Lord, place the steel of the Holy Spirit in my spine and the love of the Virgin Mary in my heart.

Amsterdam Vallon: The past is a torch that lights our way. Where our fathers have shown us the path, we shall follow. Our faith is the weapon most feared by our enemies. For thereby shall we lift our people up against those who would destroy us.

Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Pins Amsterdam to the wall] That's it, that's it! Tear my head off and destruct the world! Just like the rest of the stupid Irish in this country! That's why I never ran with your dad!

Amsterdam Vallon: Get off me you crazy bastard!

Walter 'Monk' McGinn: [Leans in and whispers a line of Gaelic. Then, in English] It means, 'If you're not strong you'd better be smart.' Now I don't know if you're being too clever or too dumb, but whichever it is just remember this much. For all his faults, your father was a man who loved his people.

[Releases Amsterdam and walks away]

[last lines]

Amsterdam Vallon: ...And no matter what they did to build this city up again, for the rest of time, it will be like no-one even knew we was ever here.

Amsterdam Vallon: The earth turns, but we don't feel it more. And one night you look up. One spark and the whole sky is on fire.

Amsterdam Vallon: I give you my word, this all will be finished tomorrow.

Jenny: No, it won't.

Bill: I killed the last honorable man, 15 years ago. Since then it's... You seen his portrait downstairs?

Amsterdam Vallon: Mm-hmm.

Bill: 'S your mouth all glued-up with cunny juice? I asked you a question!

Amsterdam Vallon: [angrily] I said I *seen* it, sir.

Bill: [smiling] Oh, you got a murderous streak in you!

Jenny: [after running into Johnny] Look where you are going, Johnny!

[notices Amsterdam]

Jenny: You look stunned and poorly, sir.

[both of the men are silent and nervous]

Jenny: [sarcastic] Quite a pair of conversationists, aren't you.

Amsterdam Vallon: Maybe not. We're deep thinkers.

Jenny: [chuckles] Well then. Gentlemen, I leave you in the grace and favour of the Lord.

[walks off]

Amsterdam Vallon: Jenny was a Bluget, a girl pickpocket and a turtledove. A turtledove picks out a fine house, disguises herself as a housemaid and robs you blind. It takes a lot of sand to be a turtledove.

Amsterdam Vallon: Is there anyone in the five points you *haven't* fucked?

Jenny: Yes! *You!*

Amsterdam Vallon: New York loved William Tweed... and hated him but for those of us trying to be thieves, we couldn't help but admire him.

Amsterdam Vallon: Suppose you back an Irish candidate, of my choosin', and I'll deliver all the Irish vote?

Boss Tweed: That will only happen in the reign of Queen Dick.

[as Monk McGinn runs for Sheriff]

Boss Tweed: That man was right born for this.

Amsterdam Vallon: He's killed 44 men, and laid low a couple hundred more.

Boss Tweed: Is that right? We should have run him for mayor.

Amsterdam Vallon: Challenge.

Bill: Challenge accepted.

Amsterdam Vallon: Amsterdam: I've been called a lot of things, mister... but I've never been called...?

McGloin: McGloin: Fiddeling bends.

Amsterdam Vallon: Amsterdam: Fiddeling bends. Right. If I knew what in the hell that meant... I might be inclined to take offense.

Amsterdam Vallon: [the failed assassin is dying] I think he's making his peace with God.

Bill: On the seventh day the Lord rested, but before that he did, he squatted over the side of England and what came out of him... was Ireland. No offense son.

Amsterdam Vallon: Nah, none taken, sir. I grew up here. All I ever knew of Ireland was from the talk of the others at the orphan asylum.

Bill: And which part of that excrementitious isle where your forebears spawned?

Amsterdam Vallon: I've been told Kerry, I lost proof of it in my language at the asylum.

Bill: Pistols?

Amsterdam Vallon: No pistols.

Bill: Good boy.

Amsterdam Vallon: Our name is called "The Dead Rabbits" to remind all of our suffering, and as a call to those who suffer still to join our ranks. However far they may have strayed from our common home across the sea. For with great numbers must come great strength in the salvation of our people.