Guess quote

Smedley Butler [1881-1940] American

Rank: 101
Soldier, Author

Smedley Darlington Butler was a United States Marine Corps major general, the highest rank authorized at that time, and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history.

War, Business, Home, Peace

Quote	Tags	Rank
There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.	Home	101
The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent. Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag.		102
My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military.		103
War is a racket. 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.	War	104
War is a racket. It always has been... A few profit - and the many pay. But there is a way to stop it. You can't end it by disarmament conferences. You can't eliminate it by peace parleys at Geneva. Well-meaning but impractical groups can't wipe it out by resolutions. It can be smashed effectively only by taking the profit out of war.	Peace, War	105
I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.		106
The normal profits of a business concern in the United States are six, eight, ten, and sometimes twelve percent. But war-time profits - ah! that is another matter - twenty, sixty, one hundred, three hundred, and even eighteen hundred per cent - the sky is the limit.	Business	107
I served in all commissioned ranks from a second Lieutenant to a Major General. And during that time, I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street, and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism.	Business	108
War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.	War	109
I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in.		110
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. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General.		111
War is just a racket... I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else.		112
Out of war nations acquire additional territory, if they are victorious. They just take it. This newly acquired territory promptly is exploited by the few - the selfsame few who wrung dollars out of blood in the war. The general public shoulders the bill.		113
For a great many years, as a soldier, I had a suspicion that war was a racket; not until I retired to civil life did I fully realize it.		114
We must take the profit out of war.		115
We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war.		116

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