Oldest 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. 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.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: 1935 Senate Testimony, Smedley Butler, “War Is a Racket”
War is portrayed as a profit‑driven enterprise that harms humanity while enriching a few.
In simple terms: War profits the rich, kills the poor.
Key Takeaway
Question profit motives and protect lives.
Themes
war
economics
ethics
politics
power
Mood
critical
somber
inquisitive
Type
political
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- activism
- education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
military‑industrial complex
profit motive
human cost
Questions to Reflect On
- How does profit influence war decisions?
- What alternatives exist to militaristic conflict?
A Different Perspective
War also involves national security and ideological factors.
![“[He] fell right into the oldest conviction in the world-- that the girl you are in love with can't possibly be anything but true and honest.” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c8/john-steinbeck-71_conviction_he-fell-right-into-the-oldest-conviction_37199.jpg)
