How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from The Sting.
Quote #4
SNYDER: I'm on vacation. You seen your friend lately?
When he shakes down Joe Erie for information about Johnny, Snyder is quickly frustrated by the loyalty that grifters tend to have toward one another. In this case, he busts up Joe's nose pretty badly, but doesn't really get anything out of him. That's because Joe is a good friend.
Quote #5
JOE ERIE: No... I never played no Big Con before. But Luther Coleman was a friend of mine. I thought maybe there was something I could do.
Joe Erie isn't really interested in the money he'll make off of conning Doyle Lonnegan. But like Johnny, he was a friend of Luther Coleman and he wants revenge for the death of his friend. It's this loyalty that ends up impressing Kid Twist enough to let Joe in on the con.
Quote #6
HENRY GONDORFF: You can't play your friends like marks, Hooker.
When Henry finds out that Johnny is withholding important info from the rest of his grifter gang, Henry calls him out on being a bad friend. In Henry's mind, Johnny is a little too selfish at times and unwilling to admit when he needs help. But luckily, this is a lesson Johnny will learn one way or the other.