Men have looked upon the desert as barren land, the free holding of w… — T. E. Lawrence

Men have looked upon the desert as barren land, the free holding of whoever chose; but in fact each hill and valley in it had a man who was its acknowledged owner and would quickly assert the right of his family or clan to it, against aggression.

T. E. Lawrenced. 1935

More from T. E. Lawrence

All men are children, and of one family. The same tale sends them all to bed, and wakes them in the morning. — Henry David Thoreau
Fathers should be neither seen nor heard. That is the only proper basis for family life. — Oscar Wilde
There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state. — Michel de Montaigne
This creed of the desert seemed inexpressible in words, and indeed in thought. — T. E. Lawrence
The Beduin could not look for God within him: he was too sure that he was within God. — T. E. Lawrence
The people of England have been led in Mesopotamia into a trap from which it will be hard to escape with dignity and honor. — T. E. Lawrence