Summary
Grand Theft Auto 5is one of the more infamous games released this century, and while there are three legendary, memorable protagonists in the game, Michael De Santa is one who is known for his ability to talk his way out of situations. Often proving to be the calm voice of the group who seeks to avoid violence, Michael chose to run from his life of crime once before.
While Franklin is young and inexperienced, and has much to learn about the world of high-level crime throughoutGrand Theft Auto5, and Trevor is a wildcard whose quotes are insane and illegible more often than not,Michael has some excellent momentswith words over the course of the game that have become highly memorable.
Updated on July 11, 2025, by Chris Harkin:Though Grand Theft Auto 6 still isn’t quite here, that is no problem for the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Fans are still constantly revisiting GTA 5, as well as the online and roleplaying servers that have given the game so much longevity. Michael is a fantastic character, unlike anything in the history of this franchise. His reclusive life and exasperation with criminal activity make him a unique and charming presence. He was also vocal throughout the game, and thus fans are constantly finding more great moments and quotes from Michael that live in video game infamy.
9“I Hear Stockholm Syndrome Is Nice This Time Of Year”
Shows Michael Is The Same In Every Situation
Michael often wanders into horrific, twisted, or just plain weird situations. The world ofGrand Theft Autogames, and in particular the version of Los Santos portrayed inGrand Theft Auto 5,is a whimsically insane place to live. Michael, on one occasion, walks into Trevor making nice with Patricia after kidnapping her.
Being a fairly willing hostage after bonding with Trevor, Michael can’t quite believe his eyes and delivers one of his best lines in the game when he comments on the burgeoning relationship between the two by trying to remind Patricia that she is here unwillingly.
8“You… Are A Hipster!”
Shows Michael Is Amusing Even When Angry
Michael and Trevor never really see eye-to-eye inGrand Theft Auto 5. Their past association ended so badly that Trevor actually wants to murder Michael when he first discovers that his former friend still lives. But even after they somewhat reconcile, they can’t get over how the other man has changed in life.
Michael’s problem comes with constantly thinking Trevor is a hipster now, living out in the country far off the map and refusing to take part in society. One conversation, during a high-speed car chase, where Michael initially questions Trevor’s place in society is a particularly hilarious interaction and fits the whole idea ofGTAsurrealism at its finest.
7“Surviving Is Winning, Franklin, Everything Else Is Bullsh*t”
Shows Where Michael’s Priorities Really Lie
Michael is the much better of the two seasoned criminals at providing a mentor in that world to young Franklin throughoutGTA 5. While his cynicism is to an extreme level about pretty much everything, it no more comes across than when he reminds Franklin that the glamorous world of crime is all about just trying not to get killed.
Having had a cozy life with his family for years and finding himself completely exhausted from everything in life, Michael no longer feels like the materialism that led him to crime initially matters at all. He seems to come back to that life inGrand Theft Auto 5for the thrill of it. That, again, makes this line make sense in the context of the game.
6“Sarcasm Is All I’ve F*cking Got”
Shows Michael Is Exhausted With His Life
Michael is filled with sarcastic quips, too many to mention all the amazing ones he comes out with over the course ofGrand Theft Auto 5. However, his self-aware moment when his sarcastic ways are questioned is one of his very best. Coming in another scene where Michael and Trevor question each other, Trevor is saying that Michael used to be great and stood for something, but is now just a shell.
Michael, in turn, says that he was always like this and that Trevor thinks he’s morally justified in being cruel. When their FIB contacts interrupt their argument to tell them they need tobuy two million dollars worth of gearfor their next job, Michael goes on a rant about how he was just happily retired and now is completely broke so sarcasm is all he’s got.
5“You Forget A Thousand Things Every Day”
Shows The Seasoned But Reasonable Criminal
In one of the opening lines ofGrand Theft Auto 5, Michael says thisto a security guard in the prologue heist. Not only is it a hugely important line in the context of the game, but ironically also a particularly memorable one that fans associate with Michael as a character.
Saying to the guard that this should “ensure this is one of them” was a chilling way of reminding the guard that he didn’t really have any options here. Michael proved immediately the prime difference between himself and characters like Trevor, who would have been all too willing to kill the guard in this situation.
4“Please Don’t Make Me Ruin All The Great Work Your Plastic Surgeons Have Been Doing”
Shows Michael’s Exhaustion With The Fake Los Santos Lifestyle
Michael, during another robbery, shows off both his cynical side and his penchant to commit violence when it is made necessary. This, similar to the way he acted with the security guard, is a reminder that Michael doesn’t like to kill, whereas another criminal might have murdered one person to prove how serious he was.
Standing up and making sure everybody feels threatened enough not to challenge him is a reminder of how intelligent Michael is. He knows he can scare them without violence, the mere threat of it being enough to stop most people. He also shows how much he loathes the society he has become a part of in his retirement.
3“It’s Called Capitalism”
Michael’s Cynicism Comes To The Forefront
Another instance where Michael lectures Franklin about the world is when he reminds Franklin that he could “Go to College. Then You CanRip People Off And Get Paid For It,” this is another great moment that deals both with Michael’s cynical, seasoned view of the world and his understanding of where the worst crimes take place.
Despite delving back into the criminal world, Michael knows that they aren’t committing the worst crimes out there. Michael is a typical cynic, who accepts the world is a terrible place and refuses to do anything but complain about it and engage in antisocial behavior as a result, but at least he gave it a go at trying to get Franklin to go to school instead of robbing people.
2"You’ll Swear I’m An Angel"
Shows Michael’s Fear Of Trevor
Although there aren’t many moments where Michael says something sincere inGrand Theft Auto 5, his fear of Trevor’s retribution does bring one out early on. After admitting to Franklin that he is working for the Feds, Michael attempts to impose on Franklin how serious a danger Trevor can be by insisting that, though he’s done a lot of bad stuff, he’s an angel compared to Trevor.
This is proven correct when Trevor enters the picture, as an absolute lunatic who frequently goes on murder sprees and is capable of doing more damage than small armies. Michael’s fear of Trevor’s retribution defines his actions for the first half ofGTA 5, as he fully expects to be murdered if ever found by his former associate.
1"Look You Wake Up One Day And Your Legs… They Just Give"
A Moment Of Clarity Into Michael’s Mind
Although there are very few moments when Michael seems to care about or even like his family inGTA 5, one comes when he talks about escaping his former life at any cost. Speaking about his young family and the fear he had for them, the new start he dreamed of for them, he tells Franklin he can’t understand yet what it was like.
Then he says that after running for so long from danger, he wanted a chance to truly escape it because his legs had finally given out, leaving him unable to run anymore. This moment in Michael’s mind is invaluable to understanding why he betrayed his former friends and why his life has taken the direction it has, proving family really is hugely important to him.
