Originally Posted By: Turnbull

So, if Tom sussed out Sollozzo as a Sicilian, willing to risk all on a matter of honor, revenge, etc., why didn't he figure Sol would try to kill the Don?


Because despite Tom's status as honorary Sicilian and Corleone son he hadn't come up on the street side of things and didn't quite have those instincts. Also he really did place a high value on rationality and it was not rational for a small time hoodlum to try to take out the most powerful boss in the nation and start a war. Tom's rational nature-his overly rational nature- wasn't completely his "fault". He was trained in that by Vito. Also one can argue that the Brothers Corleone were a Four Temperament Ensemble. Tom is Phlegmatic. Always has been, always will be. ohwell

"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives."
Winter is Coming

Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.