No one told these American soldiers 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… — Smedley Butler Copy Share Image
War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of… — Smedley Butler Copy Share 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 National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua… — Smedley Butler Copy Share
“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. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers.… — Smedley Butler Copy Share
Only those who would be called upon to risk their lives for their country should have the privilege of voting to determine whether the… — Smedley Butler Copy Share Image
One hundred and twenty Marines were detailed to officer a force of twenty-six hundred Haitians. — Smedley Butler Copy Share 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… — Smedley Butler Copy Share Image
War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. — Smedley Butler Copy Share 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… — Smedley Butler Copy Share 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. — Smedley Butler Copy Share Image
We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war. — Smedley Butler Copy Share 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. — Smedley Butler Copy Share 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… — Smedley Butler Copy Share Image
