( CNN ) -- Tony Soprano was a bully and a lover , a lightning rod and a superstar . And thanks to scripts crafted by David Chase and others , he was also , at times , prophetic , wise , even poetic . Here are a few of Tony Soprano 's many choice lines during `` The Sopranos '' acclaimed run on HBO , compiled from IMDB.com and TVfanatic.com and spoken by actor James Gandolfini , who died in Italy while on holiday . -- Talking to his psychiatrist : `` We 're soldiers . Soldiers do n't go to hell . It 's war . Soldiers kill other soldiers . We 're in a situation where everyone involved knows the stakes and if you are going to accept those stakes , you 've got to do certain things . It 's business . '' Appreciation : Gandolfini , a pure actor . -- From another conversation with his psychiatrist , Dr. Melfi : `` This is n't painful . Getting shot is painful . Getting stabbed in the ribs is painful . This ... is n't painful . It 's empty . Dead . '' -- Speaking to his wife , Carmela : `` You 're only religious when it suits you . '' -- Speaking to Christopher Moltisanti , the cousin of Tony Soprano 's wife and part of his inner circle : `` Blood . You 're going to lead this family into the 21st century . '' -- In response to Dr. Melfi 's question , after he threatens to smash her face during a therapy session : `` Is this a woman thing ? You ask me how I 'm feeling . I tell you how I 'm feeling , and now you 're going to torture me with it . '' -- Referring to his mother 's involvement in a plot to kill him : `` What kind of person can I be , where his own mother wants him dead ? -- Speaking again to Dr. Melfi : `` The things I take pleasure in , I ca n't do . '' Of course , Tony Soprano was just one of many roles that Gandolfini played in his decades-long career . With his large frame and , at times , intimidating sneer , he cast a big shadow in numerous movie , television and theater productions before his death this week in Italy . Below are some notable quotes that he uttered in a few of those roles . Opinion : Gandolfini 's gift to television -- and America . -- As CIA director in 2012 's `` Zero Dark Thirty , '' talking about intelligence related to a compound where Osama bin Laden is later killed : `` Ca n't you put a camera somewhere -- in the trees -- to get a look into the main house ? ... We have to get a look into the house . '' -- As the monster Carol to the young boy `` king '' Max in the 2009 movie adaptation of `` Where the Wild Things Are '' : `` This used to be all rock , and now it 's sand . And then , one day , it 's going to be dust . And then the whole island will be dust . And then ... well , I do n't even know what comes after dust . '' -- As Eddie Poole , challenging another character to kill him in 1999 's `` 8MM '' : `` What are you waiting for ? Go ahead , do it ! ... What do you want me to do , start crying like a little baby ? 'Oh , I 'm sorry I killed the little girl . ' Well , f -- k you and f -- k her ! Go ahead ! Put me outta my f -- -- ing misery ! '' -- As Lt. Bobby Daughtert in 1995 's `` Crimson Tide '' questioning a new first officer , Hunter , who 'd challenged their submarine 's captain : `` We 've been following the captain for years , and now this a -- hole Hunter shows up , and we 're supposed to follow him because he said so ? '' -- As Virgil , a deranged mobster , in 1993 's `` True Romance '' : `` Now the first time you kill somebody , that 's the hardest ... . The second one ai n't no f -- -in ' Mardi Gras either , but it 's better than the first one ... The third one is easy , you level right off . It 's no problem . '' Read : Entertainers , politicians mourn Gandolfini . Read : 'Sopranos , ' Gandolfini left mark on N.J. businesses .
James Gandolfini played Tony Soprano on the HBO hit show `` The Sopranos '' Tony Sorprano 's lines routinely struck a chord for their frankness , humor , depth . Gandonfini , who died in Italy , had notable roles in films like `` Crimson Tide , '' `` 8MM '' More recently , he played the CIA director in the critically acclaimed `` Zero Dark Thirty ''