Quotes by Smedley Butler

About Smedley Butler:

Smedley Darlington Butler is well known for having later become an outspoken critic of U.S. wars and their consequences, as well as exposing the Business Plot, an alleged plan to overthrow the U.S. government.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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 mas...

Smedley Butler

My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military.

Smedley Butler

The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent. Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag.

Smedley Butler

I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General.

Smedley Butler

I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in.

Smedley Butler

I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

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 s...

Smedley Butler

I served in all commissioned ranks from a second Lieutenant to a Major General. And during that time, I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street, and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capita...

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

For a great many years, as a soldier, I had a suspicion that war was a racket; not until I retired to civil life did I fully realize it.

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 o...

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

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 ...

Smedley Butler

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

Author Bio

  • NameSmedley Butler
  • DescriptionUnited States Marine Corps General, 2 time Medal of Honor recipient and activist
  • AliasesSmedley Darlington Butler; Smedley D. Butler
  • BornJuly 30, 1881
  • DiedJune 21, 1940
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionGeneral Officers In The United States; Civil Servant; General Officers Of World War I; Lecturer; Writer
  • WorksWar Is A Racket
  • AwardsMedal Of Honor; Marine Corps Brevet Medal; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Service Medal (United States Army); Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; Spanish Campaign Medal; China Relief Expedition Medal; Haitian Campaign Medal; Philippine Campaign Medal; Dominican Campaign Medal; Nicaraguan Campaign Medal#Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal; Mexican Service Medal; World War I Victory Medal; Yangtze Service Medal; National Order Of Honour And Merit; Order Of The Black Star