Thomas Shelby – Character Quotes

— You're a soldier, I'm a soldier. There are elements within the state who are prepared to kill. We need to meet them unafraid.

— Well, who would've thought I'd be doing business with fucking Gypsy Catholic scum? ... Aye, but you're OK.
— Yeah, I'm only OK until I'm not OK. Then I'm really not.

— Well, then, at least throw away your opium. It's that that causes the visions. Just... throw it away. While it's there, it's a temptation. How much have you got left?
— Seven tonnes.
— Seven tonnes?
— Yeah. I'd hate for it to run out, Ada.

Young she is, when she's barefoot on the cobbles.

— We should postpone our war.
— Your brother left me a hand grenade.
— He sends his apologies. You left me land mines.
— For which I too apologies.

— You know, it's a pity. I was looking forward to killing you.
— You're at the back of a long queue.

— The nature of the deal is explained in my proposal. I've booked you a suite at the Midland Hotel. If you need anything in this city, just mention my name.
— So you want to impress me, Mr Shelby?
— Also in the envelope is a cheque for five hundred pounds for your wife. She can use it to buy a black dress, rent a black horse with black feathers, to pull a black carriage with your body in it, should you break the terms of the white flag. Now, please, enjoy the city it's my honour to represent.

— So, who are we meeting?
— The man we're about to meet is the Minister for the Duchy of Lancaster. He's also deputy to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Cabinet adviser to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. You've both met bad men before. The man we're about to meet is the devil.

— So, what's the strategy?
— You can smile. You... don't smile.

— ... Aberama Gold is in love with you. He even got a haircut. And the smell of your perfume might help ease his pain.
— Tommy, I'm fourty five years old today.
— Fourty five years old and still breaking hearts, eh?

— Whose report?
— The testimony of children.
— Who have they spoken to?
— You'd have them only speak to God.
— God be their witness.
— There is God, and there are the Peaky Blinders. This is Sparkhill, we're in Small Heath. We are much, much closer at hand than God.
— And we have heard terrible things.
— We have, in this place, children of the worst sort. They lie as easily as breathe.
— You had a child half black. You made her wash with a different soap.
— Mr Shelby, your own sins are legend.
— Our sins... Our sins against the beating of children with bricks and hoses. Our sins. Our sins... against the black child who hanged herself for fear of your temper.
— I do not see how...
— You do not see! Now put them on. Put them on your face, or it'll be your eyes that are broken. Please don't imagine that I won't use this minute to do it, or that I am afraid of your prayers or your crosses.
— You see the world broken. Like those beaten children will.

— Frances said Linda was here today.
— Frances has a very specific loyalty, doesn't she?
— Well, people are loyal to those who pay their wages.

— So, how is life as a socialist?
— This glass. The bubbles. They rise to the top. Each bubble has the same chance to rise.
— There is a very peculiar form of socialism.
— And this bottle. Once the cork comes out... you can't get it back in.

We are the people and we've had enough.

Do you want me to write you a fucking letter? Me and Arthur can't write it down... cos they haven't envented the fucking words. We don't have the fucking words. And the worst thing is... could've stayed at school. But we volunteered. Still don't have the fucking words...

— In which direction are you heading, Mr Shelby?
— I am my own revolution.