# War is a Racket

- Author: [Smedley Butler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/smedley-butler.md)
- Quotes: 6
- Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket

## Quotes

> The professional soldiers and sailors don't want to disarm. No admiral wants to be without a ship. No general wants to be without a command. Both mean men without jobs. They are not for disarmament. They cannot be for limitations of arms. And at all these conferences, lurking in the background but all-powerful, just the same, are the sinister agents of those who profit by war. They see to it that these conferences do not disarm or seriously limit armaments.

p. 44 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket/the-professional-soldiers.md)

> How many of these war millionaires shouldered a rifle? How many of them dug a trench? How many of them knew what it meant to go hungry in a rat-infested dugout? How many of them spent sleepless, frightened nights, ducking shells and shrapnel and machine gun bullets? How many of them parried the bayonet thrust of an enemy? How many of them were wounded or killed in battle?

p. 23 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket/how-many-of-these.md)

> 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.

p. 39 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket/a-few-profit.md)

> But what does it profit the masses? What does it profit the men who are killed? What does it profit the men who are maimed? What does it profit their mothers and sisters, their wives and their sweethearts? What does it profit their children? What does it profit anyone except the very few to whom war means huge profits? Yes, and what does it profit the nation?

p. 26 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket/but-what-does.md)

> Of course, it isn't put that crudely in war time. It is dressed into speeches about patriotism, love of country, and "we must all put our shoulders to the wheel," but the profits jump and leap and skyrocket -- and are safely pocketed.

p. 27 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket/of-course-it-isnt.md)

> There are 40,000,000 men under arms in the world today, and our statesmen and diplomats have the temerity to say that war is not in the making. Hell's bells! Are these 40,000,000 men being trained to be dancers?

p. 23 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/smedley-butler/war-is-a-racket/there-are-40-000-000.md)