--- title: "16 Racket Quotes By Smedley Butler" description: "16 Racket quotes by Smedley Butler. Plus more from Smedley Butler and more Racket sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/smedley-butler-17291_dollars_war-is-a-racket-it-is-the-only-one-inter_2215745.png" --- > [War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-is-the-only-one-international-in-scope-it-is-the/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e36/smedley-butler-17291_dollars_war-is-a-racket-it-is-the-only-one-inter_2215745.png) > [It is dressed into speeches about patriotism, love of country...but the profits...skyrocket...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/it-is-dressed-into-speeches-about-patriotism-love-of-country-but-the/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/smedley-butler-17291_age_it-is-dressed-into-speeches-about-patrio_3003463.png) > [For a great many years, as a soldier, I had a suspicion that war was a racket; not until I retired to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/for-a-great-many-years-as-a-soldier-i-had-a-suspicion-that-war-was-a/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b7/smedley-butler-17291_great_for-a-great-many-years-as-a-soldier-i-ha_2574160.png) > [War is just a racket... I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-just-a-racket-i-believe-in-adequate-defense-at-the-coastline/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/smedley-butler-17291_adequate_war-is-just-a-racket-i-believe-in-adequa_2390786.png) > [My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/my-mental-faculties-remained-in-suspended-animation-while-i-obeyed/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/smedley-butler-17291_animation_my-mental-faculties-remained-in-suspende_977255.png) > [War like any other racket, pays high dividends to the very few. The cost of operations is always transferred to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-like-any-other-racket-pays-high-dividends-to-the-very-few-the/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/smedley-butler-17291_cost_war-like-any-other-racket-pays-high-divi_2509062.png) > [War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is-possibly-the-oldest-easily/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/smedley-butler-17291_anti-war_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is_872968.png) > [I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-helped-in-the-raping-of-half-a-dozen-central-american-republics-for/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/smedley-butler-17291_als_i-helped-in-the-raping-of-half-a-dozen-c_2033171.png) > [No one told these American soldiers they might be shot down by bullets made by their own brothers here. No one told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/no-one-told-these-american-soldiers-they-might-be-shot-down-by/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/smedley-butler-17291_age_no-one-told-these-american-soldiers-they_2525250.jpg) > [A few profit - and the many pay. But there is a way to stop it. You can't end it by disarmament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/a-few-profit-and-the-many-pay-but-there-is-a-way-to-stop-it-you-can-t/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/smedley-butler-17291_conferences_a-few-profit-and-the-many-pay-but-there_2367537.jpg) > [War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-just-a-racket-a-racket-is-best-described-i-believe-as/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/smedley-butler-17291_antiwar_war-is-just-a-racket-a-racket-is-best-de_274913.jpg) > [“WAR is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is-possibly-the-oldest-easily-2/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/smedley-butler-17291_oldest_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is_889598.png) > [I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to major general. And during that period, I spent most of my time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-served-in-all-commissioned-ranks-from-second-lieutenant-to-major/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/smedley-butler-17291_bankers_i-served-in-all-commissioned-ranks-from_1117290.png) > [War is a racket. It always has been... A few profit - and the many pay. But there is a way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-a-few-profit-and-the-many-pay-but/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/smedley-butler-17291_conferences_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-a-few_3132162.png) > [War Is A Racket : I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-i-suspected-i-was-just-part-of-a-racket-at-the-time/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/smedley-butler-17291_animation_war-is-a-racket-i-suspected-i-was-just-p_1344068.png) > [I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-helped-make-mexico-especially-tampico-safe-for-american-oil/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/185/smedley-butler-17291_banking_i-helped-make-mexico-especially-tampico_344320.jpg) ## 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-just-a-racket-a-racket-is-best-described-i-believe-as/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-helped-make-mexico-especially-tampico-safe-for-american-oil/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [“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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-spent-thirty-three-years-and-four-months-in-active-military-service/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [Only those who would be called upon to risk their lives for their country should have the privilege of voting to determine whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/only-those-who-would-be-called-upon-to-risk-their-lives-for-their/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [One hundred and twenty Marines were detailed to officer a force of twenty-six hundred Haitians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/one-hundred-and-twenty-marines-were-detailed-to-officer-a-force-of/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [I served in all commissioned ranks from a second Lieutenant to a Major General. And during that time, I spent most of my time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-served-in-all-commissioned-ranks-from-a-second-lieutenant-to-a/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is-possibly-the-oldest-easily/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [“WAR is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is-possibly-the-oldest-easily-2/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/my-mental-faculties-remained-in-suspended-animation-while-i-obeyed/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/we-must-permit-the-youth-of-the-land-who-would-bear-arms-to-decide/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [Why don't those damn oil companies fly their own flags on their personal property-maybe a flag with a gas pump on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/why-don-t-those-damn-oil-companies-fly-their-own-flags-on-their/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to major general. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-served-in-all-commissioned-ranks-from-second-lieutenant-to-major/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/my-mental-faculties-remained-in-suspended-animation-while-i-obeyed-2/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/the-trouble-with-america-is-that-when-the-dollar-only-earns-6-percent/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) > [War Is A Racket : I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-i-suspected-i-was-just-part-of-a-racket-at-the-time/) [Smedley Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smedley-butler/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racket/smedley-butler/#itemlist", "name": "16 Racket Quotes By Smedley Butler", "numberOfItems": 16, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. 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I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-just-a-racket-i-believe-in-adequate-defense-at-the-coastline/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/smedley-butler-17291_adequate_war-is-just-a-racket-i-believe-in-adequa_2390786.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/smedley-butler-17291_adequate_war-is-just-a-racket-i-believe-in-adequa_2390786.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a25/smedley-butler-17291_adequate_war-is-just-a-racket-i-believe-in-adequa_2390786.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“War is just a racket... 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This is typical with everyone in the military service.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/my-mental-faculties-remained-in-suspended-animation-while-i-obeyed/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/smedley-butler-17291_animation_my-mental-faculties-remained-in-suspende_977255.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/smedley-butler-17291_animation_my-mental-faculties-remained-in-suspende_977255.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ba/smedley-butler-17291_animation_my-mental-faculties-remained-in-suspende_977255.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. 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The cost of operations is always transferred to the people who do not profit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-like-any-other-racket-pays-high-dividends-to-the-very-few-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/smedley-butler-17291_cost_war-like-any-other-racket-pays-high-divi_2509062.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/smedley-butler-17291_cost_war-like-any-other-racket-pays-high-divi_2509062.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/smedley-butler-17291_cost_war-like-any-other-racket-pays-high-divi_2509062.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“War like any other racket, pays high dividends to the very few. 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It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is-possibly-the-oldest-easily/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/smedley-butler-17291_anti-war_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is_872968.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/smedley-butler-17291_anti-war_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is_872968.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/smedley-butler-17291_anti-war_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is_872968.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-helped-in-the-raping-of-half-a-dozen-central-american-republics-for/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/smedley-butler-17291_als_i-helped-in-the-raping-of-half-a-dozen-c_2033171.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/smedley-butler-17291_als_i-helped-in-the-raping-of-half-a-dozen-c_2033171.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0c/smedley-butler-17291_als_i-helped-in-the-raping-of-half-a-dozen-c_2033171.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 US patents.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/no-one-told-these-american-soldiers-they-might-be-shot-down-by/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/smedley-butler-17291_age_no-one-told-these-american-soldiers-they_2525250.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/smedley-butler-17291_age_no-one-told-these-american-soldiers-they_2525250.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d4/smedley-butler-17291_age_no-one-told-these-american-soldiers-they_2525250.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No one told these American soldiers they might be shot down by bullets made by their own brothers here. No…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/a-few-profit-and-the-many-pay-but-there-is-a-way-to-stop-it-you-can-t/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/smedley-butler-17291_conferences_a-few-profit-and-the-many-pay-but-there_2367537.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/smedley-butler-17291_conferences_a-few-profit-and-the-many-pay-but-there_2367537.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdf/smedley-butler-17291_conferences_a-few-profit-and-the-many-pay-but-there_2367537.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A few profit - and the many pay. But there is a way to stop it. You can't end it by disarmament conferences…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-just-a-racket-a-racket-is-best-described-i-believe-as/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/smedley-butler-17291_antiwar_war-is-just-a-racket-a-racket-is-best-de_274913.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/smedley-butler-17291_antiwar_war-is-just-a-racket-a-racket-is-best-de_274913.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/018/smedley-butler-17291_antiwar_war-is-just-a-racket-a-racket-is-best-de_274913.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“WAR is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. 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.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is-possibly-the-oldest-easily-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/smedley-butler-17291_oldest_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is_889598.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/smedley-butler-17291_oldest_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is_889598.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85a/smedley-butler-17291_oldest_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-it-is_889598.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“WAR is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-served-in-all-commissioned-ranks-from-second-lieutenant-to-major/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/smedley-butler-17291_bankers_i-served-in-all-commissioned-ranks-from_1117290.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/smedley-butler-17291_bankers_i-served-in-all-commissioned-ranks-from_1117290.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df7/smedley-butler-17291_bankers_i-served-in-all-commissioned-ranks-from_1117290.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I served in all commissioned ranks from second lieutenant to major general. And during that period, I spent…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "War is a racket. It always has been... 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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-a-few-profit-and-the-many-pay-but/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/smedley-butler-17291_conferences_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-a-few_3132162.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/smedley-butler-17291_conferences_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-a-few_3132162.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/407/smedley-butler-17291_conferences_war-is-a-racket-it-always-has-been-a-few_3132162.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“War is a racket. It always has been... A few profit - and the many pay. But there is a way to stop it. You…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "War Is A Racket : I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all members of the military profession I never had an original thought until I left the service. 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", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket-i-suspected-i-was-just-part-of-a-racket-at-the-time/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/smedley-butler-17291_animation_war-is-a-racket-i-suspected-i-was-just-p_1344068.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/smedley-butler-17291_animation_war-is-a-racket-i-suspected-i-was-just-p_1344068.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d38/smedley-butler-17291_animation_war-is-a-racket-i-suspected-i-was-just-p_1344068.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“War Is A Racket : I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all members…” — Smedley Butler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Smedley Butler" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smedley-butler/i-helped-make-mexico-especially-tampico-safe-for-american-oil/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/185/smedley-butler-17291_banking_i-helped-make-mexico-especially-tampico_344320.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/185/smedley-butler-17291_banking_i-helped-make-mexico-especially-tampico_344320.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/185/smedley-butler-17291_banking_i-helped-make-mexico-especially-tampico_344320.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. 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