--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America is a great nation, but it cannot…" description: "\"America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.\" — Erik Prince" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/erik-prince-5732_america_america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot_347491.jpg" --- # America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and… ![“America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.” quote by Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/erik-prince-5732_america_america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot_347491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/erik-prince-5732_america_america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot_347491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/erik-prince-5732_america_america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot_347491.jpg) > “America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.” [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive military spending is unsustainable and will deplete resources. **In simple terms:** Too much war spending harms the nation. Key Takeaway Limit defense budgets responsibly. Themes budget national security economics Mood concerned serious Type political policy When to use this quote - government budgeting - defense planning - public debate - tax policy Key Concepts Fiscal sustainability resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance security with fiscal health? - What alternatives exist to endless spending? A Different Perspective Military needs also require funding for troops and security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/) [Treasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treasure/) ## Related quotes > [We don't have time as a nation to spend all of what we do blocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-murkowski/we-don-t-have-time-as-a-nation-to-spend-all-of-what-we-do-blocking/) [Lisa Murkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-murkowski/) > [Something's very wrong with a nation that would rather spend money on war than take care of its children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/something-s-very-wrong-with-a-nation-that-would-rather-spend-money-on/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“The United States of America was once a great nation... but this United States is not the one our founding fathers set out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-allen/the-united-states-of-america-was-once-a-great-nation-but-this-united/) J.C. Allen > [I'm a Christian. I believe that greatness has to do with the quality of love shown to the least of thy brethren and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-m-a-christian-i-believe-that-greatness-has-to-do-with-the-quality/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [America became a great nation early on not because it was flooded with politicians, but because it was flooded with people who understood the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/america-became-a-great-nation-early-on-not-because-it-was-flooded/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [America is great not because it's a team. America is great because it is a nation whose founding documents elevated the rights of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/america-is-great-not-because-it-s-a-team-america-is-great-because-it/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [I have a dream... I have a dream today... And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-have-a-dream-i-have-a-dream-today-and-if-america-is-to-be-a-great/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We must always remember that America is a great nation today not because of what government did for people but because of what people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/we-must-always-remember-that-america-is-a-great-nation-today-not/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [America is a great nation, not just because of your power and your wealth, but because of your high ideals, openness, and generosity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hsien-loong/america-is-a-great-nation-not-just-because-of-your-power-and-your/) [Lee Hsien Loong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hsien-loong/) > [The Founding Fathers believed that faith in God was the key to our being a good people and America's becoming a great nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-founding-fathers-believed-that-faith-in-god-was-the-key-to-our/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I had great admiration for the election of President Obama. I believe that the U.S. at that moment showed tremendous capacity to show that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dilma-rousseff/i-had-great-admiration-for-the-election-of-president-obama-i-believe/) [Dilma Rousseff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dilma-rousseff/) > [It is fitting for a great nation to yield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/it-is-fitting-for-a-great-nation-to-yield/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [It is not what we have that will make us a great nation; it is the way in which we use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-what-we-have-that-will-make-us-a-great-nation-it-is-the-way/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The Australian people want to help build this country into a great nation. This budget... has not realized the capacity of the Australian people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-australian-people-want-to-help-build-this-country-into-a-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Entrepreneurship is the very back bone of our country and what makes us great - we are a nation of founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-lublin/entrepreneurship-is-the-very-back-bone-of-our-country-and-what-makes/) [Nancy Lublin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-lublin/) ## More by Erik Prince > [We now know that gun-free zones, though well intentioned, do not prevent attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-now-know-that-gun-free-zones-though-well-intentioned-do-not/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The video game industry is constantly evolving. The sheer creativity matched with cutting-edge technologies gives me the comfort that innovation is alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-video-game-industry-is-constantly-evolving-the-sheer-creativity/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater's work with the CIA began when we provided specialized instructors and facilities that the Agency lacked. In the years that followed, the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/blackwater-s-work-with-the-cia-began-when-we-provided-specialized/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Video games are an exciting medium. The creativity of design, the technology and the interaction represent the best of American innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/video-games-are-an-exciting-medium-the-creativity-of-design-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [There are some phone calls where it's not even worth wasting the electrons on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/there-are-some-phone-calls-where-it-s-not-even-worth-wasting-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Why should I pay for business? Fly coach, you arrive at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/why-should-i-pay-for-business-fly-coach-you-arrive-at-the-same-time/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [You pretty much remove the entire political texture from Blackwater when you come to China. What they look at is our 100 per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/you-pretty-much-remove-the-entire-political-texture-from-blackwater/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Limited government is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/limited-government-is-best/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [In Joe Yorio you find a guy who's smarter at business than I am. I'm an entrepreneur and idea guy; he's a professional businessman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-joe-yorio-you-find-a-guy-who-s-smarter-at-business-than-i-am-i-m/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [One of the real core competencies of Blackwater, or companies like Blackwater, is we can operate in difficult places without any outside support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/one-of-the-real-core-competencies-of-blackwater-or-companies-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm painted as this war profiteer by Congress. Meanwhile I'm paying for all sorts of intelligence activities to support American national security, out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-painted-as-this-war-profiteer-by-congress-meanwhile-i-m-paying/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm an American working for America. Anything we do is to support U.S. policy. You know the definition of a mercenary is a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-an-american-working-for-america-anything-we-do-is-to-support-u-s/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Our failed population-centric approach to Afghanistan has only led to missed opportunities, which is why Afghanistan depends on donors for 90% of government revenues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/our-failed-population-centric-approach-to-afghanistan-has-only-led-to/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [President Trump should appoint a special presidential envoy and empower them to wage an unconventional war against Taliban and Daesh forces, to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/president-trump-should-appoint-a-special-presidential-envoy-and/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [We have no George Pattons anymore. We have no Ulysses S. Grants. We have none of the swashbuckling generals that actually made things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-have-no-george-pattons-anymore-we-have-no-ulysses-s-grants-we-have/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) [Explore all 100 Erik Prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Prince" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/erik-prince-5732_america_america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot_347491.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/erik-prince-5732_america_america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot_347491.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/erik-prince-5732_america_america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot_347491.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.” — Erik Prince", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erik Prince", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "America is a great nation, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```