Age Quote 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…

— 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…

— 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.…

— 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…

— Smedley Butler

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

— 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…

— Smedley Butler

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

— 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…

— 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.

— Smedley Butler

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

— 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.

— 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…

— Smedley Butler