Anti war Quote by Smedley Butler
“War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: War Is a Racket, 1935
War is portrayed as a profitable, ancient, and vicious enterprise driven by profit.
In simple terms: War benefits the few at great cost.
Key Takeaway
Challenge the economic incentives of war.
Themes
politics
economics
violence
history
Mood
serious
urgent
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- defense budgeting
- peace activism
Key Concepts
military-industrial complex
power structures
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies accept war?
- What alternatives exist to conflict?
A Different Perspective
War’s profitability can be overstated without context.
