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Smedley Butler Quotes

Author

Smedley Butler was an American author, social activist, and military officer, known for his anti-war stance and his works that exposed American imperialism.

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All Racket War Antiwar Marine Profit Anti War Peace Soldier Three Age Cities Dark Dark Ages Dollars Ifs Interest Marine Corps Medical Military Oil

Famous Smedley Butler Quotes

“We must take the profit out of war.”

War Profit Racket

Book:War is a Racket!: And Other Essential Reading

Source: War is a Racket!: And Other Essential Reading

“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.”

War Peace Loss Dollars International Profit Anti War Antiwar Scope Racket Military Industrial Complex Cost Of War

Book:War is a Racket!: And Other Essential Reading

Source: War is a Racket!: And Other Essential Reading

“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.”

Way Wells Has Beens War Ends Pay Groups Profit Resolution Conferences Wipe Disarmament Racket Geneva

Author: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.”

Source: War is a Racket!: And Other Essential Reading

“War like any other racket, pays high dividends to the very few. The cost of operations is always transferred to the people who do not profit.”

People War Pay Cost Profit Operations Dividends Racket

Author:Smedley Butler

“...The war (WWI) cost your Uncle Sam $52 billion. $39 billion was expended in the actual war period. This expenditure yielded $16 billion in profits.”

War Age Dark Periods Cost Profit Medical Billions Uncles Dark Ages Expenditures Wwi Uncle Sam

Author:Smedley Butler

“It is dressed into speeches about patriotism, love of country...but the profits...skyrocket.”

Country Age Dark Speech Profit Medical Dark Ages Racket

Author:Smedley Butler

About the Author

Born: July 30, 1881
Died: June 21, 1940
Known for: Author
Quotes: 33

Books & Sources

War is a Racket!: And Other Essential ReadingRelated source material

War Is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated SoldierRelated source material

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