Skip to content

Military service Quotes by Smedley Butler

4 Military service quotes by Smedley Butler

All Military service quotes Smedley Butler’s page

Smedley Butler’s reflections on military service strip away romanticism, exposing the gritty realities of power and duty. Drawing from his own battles, he offers stark, candid observations that challenge readers to reconsider the true cost and purpose of serving a nation.

Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

“I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the…

Image

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

Image

War Is A Racket : I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of…

Image

I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the…

Image

More by Smedley Butler

War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of…

Image

I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the…

Image

“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.…

Image

Only those who would be called upon to risk their lives for their country should have the privilege of voting to determine whether the…

Image

One hundred and twenty Marines were detailed to officer a force of twenty-six hundred Haitians.

Image

I served in all commissioned ranks from a second Lieutenant to a Major General. And during that time, I spent most of my time…

Image

War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious.

Image

“WAR is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the…

Image

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

Image

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

Image

Why don't those damn oil companies fly their own flags on their personal property-maybe a flag with a gas pump on it.

Image

I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to major general. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a…

Image