Searching for the best Peaky Blinders quotes to ignite your sense of grit and strategy? Whether you admire Tommy Shelby’s cunning or Arthur’s fearless spirit, these lines capture the razor-sharp wit and ambition that made the Shelby family unforgettable. The best Peaky Blinders quotes are more than just memorable—they’re lessons in leadership, cunning, and survival that resonate far beyond Birmingham’s streets. Get ready to revisit the moments that made this legendary series a favorite, and let these quotes fuel your inner strategist.
Ruthless Ambition
“You can change what you do, but you can’t change what you want.”
— Tommy Shelby
“Sometimes, the women have to take over. Like in the war.”
— Polly Gray
“I don’t pay for suits. My suits are on the house or the house burns down.”
— Tommy Shelby
“Good taste is for people who can’t afford sapphires.”
— Tommy Shelby
“Everyone’s a whore, Grace. We just sell different parts of ourselves.”
— Tommy Shelby
“I have made arrangements with men I trust. If I should die, then you will die, know that.”
— Tommy Shelby
“Lies travel faster than the truth.”
— Tommy Shelby
“If you make the wrong move, I’ll take your teeth as well as your earnings.”
— Arthur Shelby
“Those who are last will soon be first.”
— Tommy Shelby
“I’m not a traitor to my class. I am just an extreme example of what a working man can achieve.”
— Tommy Shelby
Calculated Strategy
“Never give power to the big man.”
— Polly Gray
“You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you take.”
— Alfie Solomons
“I think, Arthur, that the lesson here is, you talk soft. Listen hard. Know what the other man wants.”
— Tommy Shelby
“You have to get what you want your own way.”
— Arthur Shelby
“This is the day we become respectable.”
— Tommy Shelby
“There’s no rest for me in this world. Perhaps in the next.”
— Tommy Shelby
“It’s not a good idea to look at Tommy Shelby the wrong way.”
— Barney Thompson
“I hear there are some men who stand in the dark and look for me.”
— Tommy Shelby
“Blood makes you related. Loyalty makes you family.”
— John Shelby
“Men like us, Mr. Shelby, will always be alone. And what love we get, we will have to pay for.”
— Chester Campbell
⚔️ Unbreakable Grit
“In the end, it’s God who pulls that fucking trigger anyway.”
— Polly Gray
“You don’t parley when you’re on the back foot.”
— Alfie Solomons
“I’m just an extreme example of what a working man can achieve.”
— Tommy Shelby
“Sometimes, death is a kindness.”
— Polly Gray
“You are made of strong stuff, Tommy. Strong stuff and steel.”
— May Carleton
“Whiskey is good proofing water. Tells you who’s real and who isn’t.”
— Arthur Shelby
“I learned long ago to hate my enemies. I’ve never loved anyone enough to have the opposite feeling.”
— Tommy Shelby
“You can’t reason with the unreachable.”
— Polly Gray
“We plan, we get there early, and we plan to win.”
— Tommy Shelby
“The one who keeps causing you pain can never be your home.”
— Polly Gray
Cunning & Deception
“You don’t parley when you’re on the back foot. Watch and wait, and listen.”
— Alfie Solomons
“My suits are on the house or the house burns down.”
— Tommy Shelby
‘He looked at me the wrong way. That’s not the way to look at me.’
— Tommy Shelby
“Truce is just another word for cover up.”
— Alfie Solomons
‘The only way to ensure peace is by making the prospect of war seem hopeless.’
— Winston Churchill
“If you want respect, you have to take it.”
— Arthur Shelby
“Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big one?”
— Alfie Solomons
“There’s only one thing that can blind a man as smart as you, Tommy. Love.”
— Michael Gray
“I can charm dogs. Gypsy witchcraft. And those I can’t charm, I can kill with my own hands.”
— Tommy Shelby
“A good man needs to hold out sometimes to get what he wants.”
— Alfie Solomons
️ The Cost of Power
“For those who make the rules, there are no rules.”
— Tommy Shelby
“Fear is a luxury. We can no longer afford it.”
— Polly Gray
‘Sometimes the choices we make, they haunt us forever.’
— Grace Burgess
“I once believed that love was enough, now I’m not so sure.”
— Tommy Shelby
“War doesn’t end. It just lies in wait.”
— Arthur Shelby
“We all try to get away. But the past always comes for us.”
— Polly Gray
“Everyone is a prostitute, Arthur. We just sell different parts of ourselves.”
— Tommy Shelby
“You can’t trust a man who wouldn’t lie for you.”
— Alfie Solomons
“Killing a man affects the heart.”
— Abby Shelby
“One day, when all this is over, I will find a way to rest.”
— Tommy Shelby
We hope these best Peaky Blinders quotes inspired you to channel your own grit, strategy, and edge, just like the Shelby family. Whether you’re navigating challenges or simply savoring sharp dialogue, revisiting the show’s unforgettable lines can help you stay sharp and focused. Share your favorites with fellow fans, and let the relentless spirit of Peaky Blinders fuel your own journey. Remember: “You can change what you do, but you can’t change what you want.” By order of the Peaky Blinders!
About Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is a British crime drama television series created by Steven Knight. Set in Birmingham, England, in the aftermath of World War I, the show follows the powerful Shelby family as they rise from a gritty underworld gang to formidable business and political players. Known for its atmospheric storytelling, sharp visual style, and intricate plots, the series blends themes of ambition, loyalty, and strategy with real-life historic events. With standout performances—especially Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby—Peaky Blinders has earned a devoted global fan base. The show is celebrated for its nuanced characters, memorable lines, and raw depiction of resilience in the face of adversity.
