Lord of War quotes

View Quote The first time you sell a gun is a lot like the first time you have sex. You have absolutely no idea what you're doing, but it is exciting...and one way or another it's over way too fast.

View Quote Some of the most successful relationships are based on lies and deceit. Since that's where they usually end up anyway, it's a logical place to start.

View Quote I had a flair for languages. But I soon discovered that what talks best is dollars, dinars, drachmas, rubles, rupis and pounds ****ing sterling.

View Quote The reason I'll be released is the same reason you think I'll be convicted. I do rub shoulders with some of the most vile, sadistic men calling themselves leaders today. But some of these men are the enemies of your enemies. And while the biggest arms dealer in the world is your boss--the President of the United States, who ships more merchandise in a day than I do in a year--sometimes it's embarrassing to have his fingerprints on the guns. Sometimes he needs a freelancer like me to supply forces he can't be seen supplying. So. You call me evil, but unfortunately for you, I'm a necessary evil.

View Quote Say what you like about warlords and dictators; they always pay their bills on time.

View Quote There's no problem with living a double life. It's the triple and quadruple lives that get you in the end.

View Quote I don't put a gun to anybody's hand and make them shoot. I admit, the shooting war is better for business, but I prefer people to fire my guns and miss, just as long as they keep firing.

View Quote [To one of Agent Valentine's colleagues] Ahh...the new MP5. Would you like a silencer for that?

View Quote Interpol Agent Jack Valentine couldn't be bought. At least, not with money. For Jack, glory was the prize.

View Quote Selling guns is like selling vacuum cleaners; you make calls, pound the pavement, take orders. I was an equal-opportunity merchant of death; I supplied to every army but the Salvation Army. I sold Israeli-made Uzis to Muslims...I delivered Communist-made bullets to fascists...I even shipped cargo to Afghanistan while they were fighting my fellow Soviets. I never sold to Osama bin Laden—not on any moral grounds; back then, he was always bouncing checks.

View Quote You know who's going to inherit the earth? Arms dealers. Because everyone else is too busy killing each other. That's the secret to survival. Never go to war, especially with yourself.

View Quote [to Yuri Orlov] You get rich by giving the poorest people on the planet the means to continue killing each other. Do you know why I do what I do? I mean, there are more prestigous assignments. Keeping track of nuclear arsenals. You'd think that more critical to world security. But, it's not. No. Nine out of ten war victims today are killed with assault rifles and small arms. Like yours. Those nuclear missiles, they're sitting in their silos. Your AK-47, that is the real weapon of mass destruction.

View Quote I'd tell you to go to hell, but I think you're already there.

View Quote Bullets change governments far surer than votes.

View Quote The problem with gun runners going to war, is that there is no shortage of ammunition.