Famous Quotes

Trending Smedley Butler Quotes

We must take the profit out of war.

Smedley Butler

We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war.

Smedley Butler

Out of war nations acquire additional territory, if they are victorious. They just take it. This newly acquired territory promptly is exploited by the few - the selfsame few who wrung dollars out of blood in the war. The general public shoulders the bill.

Smedley Butler

War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.

Smedley Butler

War is just a racket... I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else.

Smedley Butler

There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.

Smedley Butler

War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.

Smedley Butler

The normal profits of a business concern in the United States are six, eight, ten, and sometimes twelve percent. But war-time profits - ah! that is another matter - twenty, sixty, one hundred, three hundred, and even eighteen hundred per cent - the sky is the limit.

Smedley Butler

War is a racket. It always has been... A few profit - and the many pay. But there is a way to stop it. You can't end it by disarmament conferences. You can't eliminate it by peace parleys at Geneva. Well-meaning but impractical groups can't wipe it out by resolutions. It can be smashed effectively only by taking the profit out of war.

Smedley Butler

There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.

Smedley Butler