Every war results from the struggle for markets and spheres of

The words of Robert Anton Wilson — “Every war results from the struggle for markets and spheres of influence, and every war is sold to the public by professional liars and totally sincere religious maniacs, as a Holy Crusade to save God and Goodness from Satan and Evil.” — tear away the mask of war and reveal the engine that drives it. With piercing irony, Wilson reminds us that wars, however noble their banners, are most often born of markets and influence — of wealth, resources, and power. And yet, they are rarely presented to the people in such crude terms. Instead, they are cloaked in the language of virtue, of holiness, of salvation, so that men will march willingly to slaughter believing they serve something greater than ambition and greed.

The first truth he unveils is that economic hunger is the root of nearly every conflict. Empires clash not for glory alone, but for ports, trade routes, oil fields, fertile lands, and resources that sustain power. From the wars of ancient Carthage and Rome over control of Mediterranean markets, to the colonial conquests of Europe in Africa and Asia, to the modern battles for oil in the Middle East, the pattern remains the same: wars are fought where markets are contested and where influence can be expanded. Wilson strips war of its illusions and shows its foundation: commerce and power disguised as righteousness.

But the second truth cuts deeper: the people cannot be rallied to die for markets alone. Who will give their sons for oil, who will sacrifice their daughters for shipping lanes? Thus war requires the “professional liars” — the politicians, the propagandists, the voices of authority who weave myths. They craft stories of noble causes, of good embattled by evil, of civilization threatened by barbarism. They appeal to pride, to fear, to loyalty, until the people see conquest not as greed, but as defense of the sacred. These lies are not errors; they are carefully constructed illusions, designed to transform ambition into destiny.

Alongside these liars stand the “sincere religious maniacs,” those who, with fiery conviction, see in every war the hand of God and the shadow of the Devil. Their sincerity makes them dangerous, for unlike the liars, they believe their own words. They cast conflicts as Holy Crusades, struggles not for markets but for heaven itself. When religion is yoked to the engine of war, bloodshed becomes sanctified, and the slaughter of innocents becomes a sacrifice offered to righteousness. From the medieval crusades to the wars of reformation, from jihad to counter-jihad, the story repeats itself: economic struggle cloaked in divine language, ambition made holy.

History offers countless examples. Consider the First World War: sold to the people as a defense of civilization, but rooted in imperial rivalries and the competition for colonies and trade. Or the Iraq War of 2003, justified to the public with talk of weapons of mass destruction and the liberation of oppressed peoples, but shadowed by the undeniable lure of oil and strategic dominance. Each time, professional liars gave speeches, and sincere voices of righteousness declared the cause sacred. Yet beneath it all, the markets and spheres of influence were the true battleground.

The deeper meaning of Wilson’s words is not only to condemn leaders, but to awaken us, the people. He reminds us that deception is always part of war’s beginning, and that we must learn to pierce the veil. When we hear cries of holy duty, we must ask: what markets lie beneath? When we hear of evil to be destroyed, we must ask: what influence is to be gained? For without such vigilance, we become the pawns of those who profit from both lies and sincerity.

The lesson for us is clear: seek truth beneath appearances. Do not surrender your judgment to propaganda, however noble it sounds. Remember that the causes of war are often hidden in ledgers and treaties, not in the speeches of priests or politicians. And in your own life, resist the temptation to disguise ambition as virtue. Be honest in your struggles, transparent in your aims, and wary of those who would dress greed in the garments of holiness.

Thus let Wilson’s words endure as a torch in the darkness: wars are born of markets, yet sold as crusades. To know this is to guard oneself against manipulation, to see the world with unclouded eyes, and to choose the harder path of truth over the comforting illusions of noble lies. For only in truth lies the hope of peace.