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 ButlerRead
It is dressed into speeches about patriotism, love of country...but the profits...skyrocket.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques how patriotic rhetoric often disguises the greed and profit motives behind war endeavors.
Smedley Butler's quote exposes the discrepancy between the noble speeches about patriotism and the underlying motives of profit that often drive military actions. It suggests that while leaders may talk about love for their country, the true beneficiaries of war are often the corporations and individuals who profit from it, revealing a darker side to the glorification of patriotism.
Themes
PatriotismProfitWarCritiqueSpeeches
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on military spending, one could use this quote to highlight the financial motives behind warfare.
More from Smedley Butler
All quotes βOut 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 ButlerRead
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 ButlerRead
I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long... Looking back on it, I feel I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three city districts. We Marines operated on three continents.
Smedley ButlerRead
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 ButlerRead
We must take the profit out of war.
Smedley ButlerRead
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