Smedley Butler Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

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

“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.”

“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.”

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

“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.”

“We must take the profit out of war.”