131 + Best Thomas Shelby Quotes (Peaky Blinders)
Peaky Blinders, a British crime drama television series created by Steven Knight, is set in Birmingham and follows the exploits of the crime gang navigating the gritty streets of post-World War I Birmingham, England.
It is one of the most popular TV shows of our time because of its enigmatic and cunning protagonist, Thomas Shelby, played by the talented actor Cillian Murphy.
Thomas Shelby is the formidable leader of the Shelby crime family. Known for his sharp wit, strategic mind, and undeniable charisma, Thomas Shelby has become an iconic character with a philosophy that reflects the harsh realities of his time.
His journey from a war-weary soldier to a shrewd gangster paints a complex picture of a man who understands that survival often requires unconventional choices.
As we explore some of the most memorable Thomas Shelby quotes, we unravel the layers of his philosophy—a blend of pragmatism, ambition, and a relentless pursuit of power in a world where the line between right and wrong is blurred.
Join us as we explore the wisdom and cunning behind the words of Thomas Shelby, a character whose quotes resonate with a timeless appeal.
Brave is going where no man has gone before.
- The best Thomas Shelby quotes
- Motivational Thomas Shelby quotes
- Thomas Shelby quotes about love
- Thomas Shelby quotes about women
- Tommy Shelby quotes about life
- Thomas Shelby quotes about success
- Thomas Shelby quotes about friends
- More Quotes by Thomas Shelby on Peaky Blinders
- More Quotes from Peaky Blinders
The best Thomas Shelby quotes
“You can change what you do, but you can’t change what you want.” – Thomas Shelby
“Lies travel faster than the truth.” – Thomas Shelby
“When you plan something well, there’s no need to rush.” – Thomas Shelby
“The only way to guarantee peace is by making the prospect of war seem hopeless.” – Thomas Shelby
“Conviction introduces emotion, which is the enemy of oratory.” – Thomas Shelby
“I’m just an extreme example of what a working man can achieve.” – Thomas Shelby
“A good man needs to hold out sometimes.” – Thomas Shelby
“Life’s not about fairness. It’s about survival.” – Thomas Shelby
“You have to get what you want your own way.” – Thomas Shelby
“There’s no such thing as loyalty. It’s just a word people use to make themselves feel better.” – Thomas Shelby
“All religion is a foolish answer to a foolish question.” – Thomas Shelby
“Whiskey is good proofing water. It tells you who’s real and who isn’t.” – Thomas Shelby
“You know, gentlemen, there is hell, and there is another place below hell.” – Thomas Shelby
“One minute of everything at once. And anything before is nothing. Everything after, nothing. There is nothing in comparison to that one minute.” – Thomas Shelby
“I’m not afraid to die. I’m afraid of living a life that doesn’t matter.” – Thomas Shelby
“There’s only one thing more dangerous than a cornered animal. And that’s the man who’s cornered him.” – Thomas Shelby
“I’m a man of ambition. You can’t have ambition and survive without being a little dangerous.” – Thomas Shelby
“I don’t care if I’m remembered, as long as my family is safe.” – Thomas Shelby
“It’s not a question of whether we will hurt or how much we will hurt; it’s a question of what we will do and how well we will do it.” – Thomas Shelby
“If you apologize once, you do it again and again and again. Like taking bricks out of the wall of your f***ing house.” – Thomas Shelby
“There is no rest for me in this world. Perhaps in the next.” – Thomas Shelby
“In pubs, sometimes people say things, and sometimes it’s the whisky talking. It’s hard to tell which is which.” – Thomas Shelby
“Pain changes people. It makes them trustless. Overthink more, and shut people out.” – Thomas Shelby
“People who think I’m going to fall start behaving in a different way around you.” – Thomas Shelby
“There’s a part of me that is unfamiliar to myself. And I keep finding myself there.” – Thomas Shelby
“For those who make the rules, there are no rules.” – Thomas Shelby
“People are loyal to those who pay their wages.” – Thomas Shelby
“If I ask about it, I know about it, so don’t lie about it.” – Thomas Shelby
“Sometimes death is a sign of kindness.” – Thomas Shelby
“I am my own revolution.” – Thomas Shelby
“No matter what you do, some people will never like you.” – Thomas Shelby
“Don’t let the same dog bite you twice.” – Thomas Shelby
“The one who keeps causing you pain can never be your peace.” – Thomas Shelby
“A real man chooses to honor, love, respect, adore, and be faithful to one woman.” – Thomas Shelby
Motivational Thomas Shelby quotes
- “I’m not a monster. I’m ahead of the curve.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Everyone’s a whore. We just sell different parts of ourselves.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You can change your stars, no matter who you are.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You have to learn not to care.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’ve learned to live with my hate. I don’t bother with it anymore.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You don’t get to pick who you are in this life. But you can choose who you’re loyal to.” – Thomas Shelby
- “It’s not a good idea to look at people who are more successful than you and think you’re not as good as them. It’s a terrible idea.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’m not a good man. I’m not a bad man. I’m a man.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You can change the future. I’ve seen it.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Sometimes it’s like someone’s got a gun to your head, forcing you to make a decision. A decision you don’t want to make.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’ve done some bad things in my time, but I’m not all bad, am I?” – Thomas Shelby
Thomas Shelby quotes about love
- “I don’t believe in love. It’s just a weakness that people use to justify their own mistakes.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Love is a dangerous thing. It can make a man do things he never would have dreamed of.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You are still the one that I love, the only one I dream of.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Love is a weakness when you’re faced with enemies. It’s a luxury. There is no room for it in this life.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’ve lived through the war and seen the worst of people. I never thought you’d be the one to save me.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Love is a weakness, you see. It makes you vulnerable. It opens you up. And if you open your heart, someone will come in.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I know, deep down, you still care about me.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You don’t need to know what I’m doing. You just need to know that I love you, and nothing will ever hurt you as long as I’m around.” – Thomas Shelby
Thomas Shelby quotes about women
- “I find women terrifying. The only way to survive them is to make them laugh.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’m not a man who romances. I’m a man who gets things done.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Women love the idea of a dangerous man. But they don’t like the reality.” – Thomas Shelby
- “The women don’t like it, do they? Being told what to do by a man. Especially not by Shelby.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Women, eh? I can’t live with them; I can’t live without them. Which is it today?” – Thomas Shelby
- “Women. They’re the same as horses. You pamper them, spoil them, and they take you for granted.” – Thomas Shelby
Tommy Shelby quotes about life
- “The problem with the world is that it’s entirely other people’s fault.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’ve got to think for myself because everyone else is thinking for themselves.” – Thomas Shelby
- “It’s not a good idea to look at life through the eyes of the dead.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You know, when you plan something and it all comes together, that’s special.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You don’t parley with a tiger. You admire the tiger, then you get out of the way.” – Thomas Shelby
Thomas Shelby quotes about success
- “I didn’t get to where I am by following the rules.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Ambition is a very powerful thing. I find that it forces one to become… inventive.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You can change the world, or you can watch it happen.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I have a use for my anger.” – Thomas Shelby
- “A man who controls his own destiny is a man who knows what he wants and will do whatever it takes to get it.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I have a certain way of doing business. If someone stands in my way, I destroy them.” – Thomas Shelby
- “In this world, you can either make money or make a lot of excuses.” – Thomas Shelby
Thomas Shelby quotes about friends
- “You don’t need to be liked. You need to be effective.” – Thomas Shelby
- “In this world, you have to have someone you trust.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I don’t have any friends. Just people I know.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You don’t get to decide what I am.” – Thomas Shelby
- “In this world, you have to be ruthless to be king.” – Thomas Shelby
More Quotes by Thomas Shelby on Peaky Blinders
- “Today it will be me dead or you. But whoever it is, he’ll wake up in hell tomorrow.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I don’t pay for suits. My suits are on the house, or the house burns down.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Good taste is for people who can’t afford sapphires.” – Thomas Shelby
- “When fortune drops something valuable into your lap, you don’t just dump it on the bank of the cut.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I think, Arthur. That’s what I do. I think. So that you don’t have to.” – Thomas Shelby
- “It’s not a good idea to look at Tommy Shelby the wrong way.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You don’t parley when you’re on the back foot.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’m guessing you people have all decided that the only person who could ever kill Tommy Shelby is Tommy Shelby himself.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I have no limitations.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I learned long ago to hate my enemies, but I’ve never loved one before.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’m not a traitor to my class. I am just an extreme example of what a working man can achieve.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Those of you who are last will soon be first. And those of you who are downtrodden will rise up.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I got used to seeing men die. I never got used to seeing horses die.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I can charm dogs. Gypsy witchcraft. And those I can’t charm, I can kill with my own hands.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’m a businessman. I’m a capitalist. And capitalists provide products people want and need.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’m a businessman. Everything is for sale.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I’ve been accused of being a lot of things; inarticulate isn’t one of them.” – Thomas Shelby
- “It’s in the past. The past is not my concern. The future is no longer my concern, either.” – Thomas Shelby
- “You strike when your enemy is weak.” – Thomas Shelby
- “I imagine being shot by a woman hurts the same as being shot by a man. Just a bit more shameful.” – Thomas Shelby
- “A man needs to prove he is better than me, rather than show me his birth certificate.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Now, why would I shake the hand of a man who didn’t even fight for his country?” – Thomas Shelby
- “I have made arrangements with men I trust. If I should die, then you will die; know that.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Get yourself a decent haircut, man. We’re going to the races.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Do I look like a man who wants a simple life?” – Thomas Shelby
- “I warn you, I’ll break your heart.” – Thomas Shelby
- “Whiskey is just fuel for the loud engines inside your head.” – Thomas Shelby
- “These days, people tell me things without even speaking.” – Thomas Shelby
More Quotes from Peaky Blinders
- “Brave is going where no man has gone before.” — Aunt Polly
- “You have your mother’s common sense but your father’s devilment. I see them fighting. Let your mother win.” — Aunt Polly
- “You’ve told me about her, like a gentleman; now kindly behave like a gangster again.” — May Carleton
- “There’s only one thing that can blind a man as smart as you, Tommy. Love.” — Aunt Polly
- “When there are no rules, women take charge.” — Tatiana Petrovna
- “To make sure your dog obeys you, you have to show it the stick once in a while.” — Chester Campbell
- “An agreement is not the same thing as an assurance.” — Chester Campbell
- “In all the world, the only thing that interests me is the truth.” — Chester Campbell
- “Ambition for respectability doesn’t make you a saint.” — Father John Hughes
- “Sometimes the women have to take over. Like in the war.” — Aunt Polly
- “Men like us, Mr. Shelby, will always be alone. And what love we get, we will have to pay for.” — Chester Campbell
- “When you’re dead already, you’re free.” — Aunt Polly
- “Never give power to the big man.” — Alfie Solomons
- “In the end, it’s God who pulls that f*cking trigger anyway. We don’t get to decide who lives and who dies, Finn. Not us. You just have to flick a switch.” — Arthur Shelby
- “I don’t need a knife to stop me from telling secrets given in confidence. It is a matter of honor.” — Esme Shelby
- “We’ve kept each other alive. But I didn’t just put my head through that window. I climbed through it. First, I thought it was madness, but no. When you’ve put your head out of that window, you can do anything you want. Because there are no rules. Because there are no risks.” — Aunt Polly
- “Men don’t have the strategic intelligence to conduct a war between families. Men are less good at keeping secrets out of their lies.” — Aunt Polly
- “You don’t get what you deserve; you get what you take.” – Lizzie Shelby
- “Intelligence is a very valuable thing, my friend. And usually, it comes far too f*cking late.” – Alfie Solomons
These Thomas Shelby quotes not only reflect the era of his time but also reflect human nature and the struggle we must have to survive. These quotes reflect the gray nature of humanity, and we are all good sometimes and bad at the same time.
Whatever the situation, we have to fight for our existence. In the end, Thomas Shelby’s quotes serve as a reminder of the unstoppable spirit that defines his character and the timeless allure of a man who defies the odds in pursuit of his own destiny.
