--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Blackwater USA has already taken in more…" description: "\"Blackwater USA has already taken in more than $1 billion from the public coffers. All in all, that's not a bad take for Erik Prince, the founder of Bla..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/robert-bateman-23821_academy_blackwater-usa-has-already-taken-in-more_2974358.jpg" --- # Blackwater USA has already taken in more than $1 billion… ![“Blackwater USA has already taken in more than $1 billion from the public coffers. All in all, that's not a bad take for Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater and a Naval Academy dropout who served less time under the colors of the nation, in uniform, than my most recent pair of boots.” quote by Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/robert-bateman-23821_academy_blackwater-usa-has-already-taken-in-more_2974358.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/robert-bateman-23821_academy_blackwater-usa-has-already-taken-in-more_2974358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/robert-bateman-23821_academy_blackwater-usa-has-already-taken-in-more_2974358.jpg) > “Blackwater USA has already taken in more than $1 billion from the public coffers. All in all, that's not a bad take for Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater and a Naval Academy dropout who served less time under the colors of the nation, in uniform, than my most recent pair of boots.” [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blackwater USA has profited heavily from government contracts despite its controversial background. **In simple terms:** Blackwater earned billions from public funds. Key Takeaway Scrutinize costly private contractors. Themes military private sector ethics Mood critical inquisitive Type political ethical When to use this quote - defense spending - political oversight - corporate behavior - taxpayer impact Key Concepts accountability public finance Questions to Reflect On - Why do governments hire controversial firms? - How should citizens respond to such spending? A Different Perspective Profit motives can conflict with public interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academy/) [Already taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/already-taken/) [Billions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billions/) [Blackwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackwater/) [Blackwater Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackwater-naval-4594870/) [Blackwater Usa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blackwater-usa-4594868/) [Boots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boots/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Dropouts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dropouts/) [Founder Blackwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founder-blackwater-4594867/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Naval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naval/) [Naval academy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naval-academy/) [Pairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pairs/) [Prince Founder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prince-founder-4594869/) [Taken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken/) [Uniforms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniforms/) [Usa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usa/) ## Related quotes > [“Celebrity Retrieval? I've never heard of them." "They're a kind of private Blackwater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-castoro/celebrity-retrieval-i-ve-never-heard-of-them-they-re-a-kind-of/) [Laura Castoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-castoro/) > [The people we helped in the field, they know what the legacy is. The 40% or so of Americans that really can't stand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-people-we-helped-in-the-field-they-know-what-the-legacy-is-the-40/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The Iraq war is a huge subject and there have been many films about it. But it was when the private contractors started taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/the-iraq-war-is-a-huge-subject-and-there-have-been-many-films-about/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [I loved being a SEAL. I loved working with those kind of guys and a sense of mission, and Blackwater was started to continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-loved-being-a-seal-i-loved-working-with-those-kind-of-guys-and-a/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [For people to mischaracterize my time or ownership of Blackwater as being some great financial bonanza, it was not. It was most definitely not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/for-people-to-mischaracterize-my-time-or-ownership-of-blackwater-as/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I built Blackwater to stay connected to the SEAL teams and to serve that whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-built-blackwater-to-stay-connected-to-the-seal-teams-and-to-serve/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [In Iraq, State Department civilians and U.S. soldiers have been operating in the same location in an active war zone. While the troops have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-iraq-state-department-civilians-and-u-s-soldiers-have-been/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [“He knows that there will be days ahead, long, tedious days which have no real beginning or ending, but which run together into night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/he-knows-that-there-will-be-days-ahead-long-tedious-days-which-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [Some people will always hate the name Blackwater. They might not like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/some-people-will-always-hate-the-name-blackwater-they-might-not-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Every individual who has worked for Blackwater in Iraq has previously served in the U.S. military or as a police officer. Many were highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/every-individual-who-has-worked-for-blackwater-in-iraq-has-previously/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater was smuggling weapons into Iraq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-doe/blackwater-was-smuggling-weapons-into-iraq/) [John Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-doe/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I'm a practicing Roman Catholic, but you don't have to be Catholic, you don't have to be a Christian to work for Blackwater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-a-practicing-roman-catholic-but-you-don-t-have-to-be-catholic-you/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## More by Robert Bateman > [Nature is not a free lunch, but we treat it as a free lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/nature-is-not-a-free-lunch-but-we-treat-it-as-a-free-lunch/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [To me the most important thing in a piece of art is the thought. Technique is totally secondary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/to-me-the-most-important-thing-in-a-piece-of-art-is-the-thought/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [In art and science we are now in a delta, at the end of the long flow of progress. In a delta there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/in-art-and-science-we-are-now-in-a-delta-at-the-end-of-the-long-flow/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [If I ever have a conflict between art and nature, I let art win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/if-i-ever-have-a-conflict-between-art-and-nature-i-let-art-win/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [Children don't play outside enough. For hundreds of thousands of years young people spent time outside - until 15 years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/children-don-t-play-outside-enough-for-hundreds-of-thousands-of-years/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [Aldo Leopold, the early 20th century's Henry David Thoreau, said that we should think like a mountain, with a sense of permanence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/aldo-leopold-the-early-20th-century-s-henry-david-thoreau-said-that/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [A muse comes down from Mount Olympus and changes my attitude, cheering me up - it's an inner intuition, suddenly giving a breakthrough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/a-muse-comes-down-from-mount-olympus-and-changes-my-attitude-cheering/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [I prefer to hike in nature, give lectures, or be with family when not working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/i-prefer-to-hike-in-nature-give-lectures-or-be-with-family-when-not/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [I take two walks up hills each day, and bike ride each morning. I also have an exercise bike to increase my heart rate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/i-take-two-walks-up-hills-each-day-and-bike-ride-each-morning-i-also/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [My art collection is dominated by tribal art from Nigeria where I taught school, from New Guinea where we've travelled, and by Canadian Haida…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/my-art-collection-is-dominated-by-tribal-art-from-nigeria-where-i/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [If you find yourself worrying, go outside, take three breaths, address a tree and quietly say, 'Thank you.' If you can't find a tree,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/if-you-find-yourself-worrying-go-outside-take-three-breaths-address-a/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [The most important question facing the planet is: Is it worth it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/the-most-important-question-facing-the-planet-is-is-it-worth-it/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [I am a possibilist. I believe that humanity is master of its own fate... Before we can change direction, we have to question many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/i-am-a-possibilist-i-believe-that-humanity-is-master-of-its-own-fate/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [I got serious about painting at 12, when most people give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/i-got-serious-about-painting-at-12-when-most-people-give-up/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) > [When you get to be my age, you begin to count how many Mays you have left - the best time of year for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bateman/when-you-get-to-be-my-age-you-begin-to-count-how-many-mays-you-have/) [Robert Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) [Explore all 25 Robert Bateman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bateman/) ## More Academy quotes > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike - and I don't think there really is a distinction between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/i-realized-early-on-that-the-academy-and-the-literary-world-alike-and/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [“Step Up Academy offers a conducive, encouraging, comfortable environment for children to step up their learning and achieve success. Our students progress within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerthiga-manokumar/step-up-academy-offers-a-conducive-encouraging-comfortable/) [Kerthiga Manokumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerthiga-manokumar/) > [I remember when I first won the Academy Award and how much I loved it. I just wish there was an award around that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-woodward/i-remember-when-i-first-won-the-academy-award-and-how-much-i-loved-it/) [Joanne Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-woodward/) > [Few years ago, I said something about the Academy being very white male, which is the reality, and I was slashed to pieces by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-delpy/few-years-ago-i-said-something-about-the-academy-being-very-white/) [Julie Delpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-delpy/) > [I think that no matter whether you're Quentin Tarantino or any other kind of a rebel, or whatever, everyone who makes movies still wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/i-think-that-no-matter-whether-you-re-quentin-tarantino-or-any-other/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [“Fuck Briarcrest Academy, and fuck you all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilsa-madden-mills/fuck-briarcrest-academy-and-fuck-you-all/) [Ilsa Madden-Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilsa-madden-mills/) > [I don't really look forward to movie stardom or doing a $200-million movie or winning an Academy Award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-taylor/i-don-t-really-look-forward-to-movie-stardom-or-doing-a-200-million/) [Rachael Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-taylor/) > [I am an outsider looking in, absolutely. 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