--- title: "1 American Soldiers Quotes By Smedley D. Butler" description: "1 American Soldiers quotes by Smedley D. Butler. Plus more from Smedley D. Butler and more American Soldiers sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/smedley-d-butler-54538_conscription_beautiful-ideals-were-painted-for-our-bo_874849.jpg" --- > [“Beautiful ideals were painted for our boys who were sent out to die. The was the "war to end wars." This was the "war to make the world safe for democracy." No one told them that dollars and cents were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/beautiful-ideals-were-painted-for-our-boys-who-were-sent-out-to-die/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/smedley-d-butler-54538_conscription_beautiful-ideals-were-painted-for-our-bo_874849.jpg) ## More by Smedley D. Butler > [“AL INFIERNO CON LA GUERRA”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/al-infierno-con-la-guerra/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) > [“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/i-spent-33-years-and-four-months-in-active-military-service-and/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) > [“Yes, we have had disarmament conferences and limitations of arms conferences. They don't mean a thing. One has just failed; the results of another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/yes-we-have-had-disarmament-conferences-and-limitations-of-arms/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) > [“Beautiful ideals were painted for our boys who were sent out to die. The was the "war to end wars." This was the "war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/beautiful-ideals-were-painted-for-our-boys-who-were-sent-out-to-die/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) > [“There are only two reasons why you should ever be asked to give your youngsters. One is defense of our homes. The other is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/there-are-only-two-reasons-why-you-should-ever-be-asked-to-give-your/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) > [“In a 1931 speech, Butler recounted a story about Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, how he had run over a child with his car,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-d-butler/in-a-1931-speech-butler-recounted-a-story-about-italian-prime/) [Smedley D. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-d-butler/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-soldiers/smedley-d-butler/#itemlist", "name": "1 American Soldiers Quotes By Smedley D. Butler", "numberOfItems": 1, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Beautiful ideals were painted for our boys who were sent out to die. The was the \"war to end wars.\" This was the \"war to make the world safe for democracy.\" No one told them that dollars and cents were the real reason. No one mentioned to them, as they marched away, that their going and their dying would mean huge war profits. No one told these American soldiers that they might be shot down by bullets made by their own brothers here. No one told them that the ships on which they were going to cross might be torpedoed by submarines built with United State patents. They were just told it was to be a \"glorious adventure\". Thus, having stuffed patriotism down their throats, it was decided to make them help pay for the war, too. So, we gave them the large salary of $30 a month! All that they had to do for this munificent sum was to leave their dear ones behind, give up their jobs, lie in swampy trenches, eat canned willy (when they could get it) and kill and kill and kill...and be killed”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley D. 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