Table of Contents
Introduction
Thomas Shelby, portrayed by the British actor Cillian Murphy is one the most iconic characters in TV history.
His character is distinctly defined by his ability to maintain both an enigmatic and commanding presence along with a relentless drive and a complex network of personal and professional connections.
On a deeper level, Thomas Shelby’s character explores the psychological effects of combat, the moral ambiguities of leadership, and the struggle for control and respect in a turbulent society like England around the 1920s.
In this blog post, I’ve shared 31 Thomas Shelby quotes about life, love, and women, as well as Tommy Shelby’s quotes spoken to Grace. So, Let’s start reading…
10 Best Thomas Shelby Quotes About Life
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You can change what you do, but you can’t change what you want.
Thomas Shelby
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When you plan something well, There’s no need to rush.
Thomas Shelby

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Lies travel faster than the truth.
Thomas Shelby


When fortune drops something valuable into your lap, you don’t just dump it on the bank of the cut.
Thomas Shelby
Brief Analysis
This Thomas Shelby quote about Life suggests us to recognize the value in what we’ve been given. We need to hold onto it, protect it, and use it to our advantage.
That valuable thing Fortune dropped in our lap is a tool in our storehouse. We use it to build our power and to secure our future. Just like Tommy would, we take that gift and make it work for us.
Plus, life is a relentless game of chess, and every piece counts. So we should not let good fortune slip through our fingers as this Tommy Shelby quote indicates.
So, we should take what we’re given, respect its worth, and use it to carve out our place in this world. That’s what it means to never dump something valuable on the bank of the cut.
Also Read: 37 Calvin and Hobbes Quotes on Life, Growing Up, Friendship & Happiness (Calvin and Hobbes Funny Quotes)
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Five for peace, two for truce, one abstention. Let’s get on with the war.
Thomas Shelby

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The only way to guarantee peace is by making the prospect of war seem hopeless.
Thomas Shelby

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Those of you who are last will soon be first. And those of you who are downtrodden will rise.
Thomas Shelby

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The only way to survive in this world is to be smarter than the next man.
Thomas Shelby
Brief Analysis
In the world we live in, survival isn’t just about physical strength or brute force. No, it’s about intellect, cunning, and strategic thinking.
People are driven by their desires, fears, and ambitions. By understanding these, we can manipulate situations to our advantage as this Thomas Shelby quote about life shows.
Plus, we thrive by outthinking those around us and staying one step ahead in the journey of life. That’s how we rise above the rest and find out our place in this brutal world.
In the end, it’s our wits that will keep us alive and lead us to victory. Every move calculated, every decision weighed, always a step ahead in the relentless pursuit of survival and dominance.
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Sometimes death is a kindness.
Thomas Shelby

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A good man needs to hold out sometimes.
Thomas Shelby
10 Thomas Shelby Quotes About Love
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Love can be communicated in languages beyond words. And these languages are just as valid. Magic happens when our values, thoughts, and actions align. This is integrity.
Thomas Shelby
Brief Analysis
Love isn’t bound by language. It’s in silent but powerful expressions that love finds its truest form as this Thomas Shelby quote about love portrays.
And then there’s the magic, the rare alignment of values, thoughts, and actions. Every move we make, every decision we take, echoes our deepest values.
Tommy Shelby’s life is a testament to this. Through all the betrayals, wars, and losses, he remains steadfast. His actions always reflect his values—family, loyalty, and survival.
In short, love and integrity are interwoven. They go beyond words and speeches. They’re in the silent promises we make to ourselves and to those we care about.

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Love is a dangerous thing.
Thomas Shelby
It can make a man do things he never would have dreamed of.

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You once said to me, that men like us can never be loved. She loves me, she told me—she loves me.
Thomas Shelby
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I learnt long ago to hate my enemies, but I’ve never loved one before.
Thomas Shelby


I don’t believe in love.
Thomas Shelby
It’s just a weakness that people use to justify their own mistakes.
Brief Analysis
Sometimes, love becomes an excuse for people to explain away their failures and missteps. It’s easier to blame the heart than to admit to our own flaws and errors in judgment.
In love, people often take risks and compromise. And in the world Thomas Shelby inhabits, compromise is dangerous. It’s a sign of weakness that others can exploit.
We are not asked to dismiss this emotion. But we should stay sharp, and focused, and not let anything – or anyone – get in the way.
To conclude, this savage Thomas Shelby quote reminds us that love, for all its beauty, is also a risk. And in such a ruthless world, it’s a risk he’s not willing to take.
Also Read: 74 Best Winnie the Pooh Quotes on Friendship, Life, Love, Goodbye, Memories, Adventure & Honey

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You are still the one that I love, the only one I dream of.
Thomas Shelby

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A few days without you and I completely lost my mind.
Thomas Shelby
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A real man chooses to honor, love, respect, adore, and be faithful to one woman.
Thomas Shelby

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There’s no such thing as loyalty. It’s just a word people use to make themselves feel better.
Thomas Shelby
Brief Analysis
In the world we live in, people are loyal as long as it benefits them. Words like ‘loyalty’ are often used to mask the underlying self-interest as this quote from Thomas Shelby portrays.
People used to say anything to give themselves a sense of honor. But when push comes to shove, loyalty is often the first thing to go out the window.
It’s not that we should become cynical and trust no one. We can appreciate loyalty when we see it, but we should also be prepared for the times when it falters.
In essence, loyalty is a comforting illusion, it can shatter when reality hits. And when it does, it’s best to face whatever comes our way, just like Thomas Shelby would.
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We used to come here, she’d wait for hours for me, when I couldn’t make it. And I’d wait for her if her family kept her in.
Thomas Shelby
7 Thomas Shelby Quotes About Women
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I imagine being shot by a woman hurts the same as being shot by a man. Just a bit more shameful.
Thomas Shelby
Brief Analysis
When a woman is the one to pull the trigger of the g*n, it’s not just a bullet that hits a man. It’s a challenge, a disruption of the natural order a man has come to accept.
Being shot by a woman often stings men. It’s because she’s had to fight even harder to overcome the prejudices and obstacles that men have put in place.
Moreover, the shame comes from realizing that he’s been outwitted in a way he hadn’t expected. It’s a slap of reality that often cuts deeper than any wound.
Ultimately, this Thomas Shelby quote about women portrays that the shame is about the realization that even a king can be caught unawares. It’s a reminder of the ever-changing dynamics of power and respect.
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So fing close. Oh, and there’s a woman. Yeah. A woman I love. And I got close. Nearly got fing everything.
Thomas Shelby
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We respect women, not b*tches.
Thomas Shelby
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A healed woman is powerful, a focused man is dangerous.
Thomas Shelby


Fast women and slow horses will ruin your life.
Thomas Shelby
Brief Analysis
Fast women represent fleeting pleasure that can lead to long-term pain. They’re often associated with drama, instability, and trouble.
A “slow horse” is a metaphor for poor decisions that drain resources and energy without yielding any benefits. It’s a symbol of bad judgment, of backing the wrong horse in life’s races.
The quote by Thomas Shelby warns us about the dual dangers of fleeting pleasures and poor investments. Fast women and slow horses are pitfalls that can derail even the most carefully laid plans.
So, this quote from Thomas Shelby explains that in a world full of risks and temptations, we must be unwavering in our pursuit of greatness. Only then can we avoid the fate of being ruined by fast women and slow horses?
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John, this company is a modern enterprise
Thomas Shelby
and believes in equal rights for women.
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She’s in the past. The past is not my concern. The future is no longer my concern, either.
Thomas Shelby
4 Tommy Shelby Quotes to Grace
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
Everyone’s a wh*re, Grace. We just sell different parts of ourselves.
Thomas Shelby
Brief Analysis
We all have something we trade for what we want or need and give up parts of ourselves. Sometimes it’s our time, sometimes our values, sometimes our dreams.
In this world, we’re all making deals, big and small. It’s about understanding the price you’re willing to pay and living with it as this Peaky Blinders Thomas Shelby quote shows.
Moreover, we’re all in this game, trading parts of ourselves to survive, to succeed, to protect what we love. It’s a cold truth, but it’s one that Tommy Shelby understands all too well.
To conclude, we all make sacrifices and compromises in life, trading away parts of ourselves to get what we want. It’s an honest reflection on the nature of human existence.
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Grace: “I warn you, I’ll break your heart.”
Thomas Shelby
Tommy: “Already broken.”
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Look, Grace, I know you weren’t born to be with a man like me.
Thomas Shelby

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I know you like to be asked properly.
Thomas Shelby
Grace, can I have this dance?