"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. Lawrence
About this Quote
In this quote, T. E. Lawrence is highlighting the misunderstanding that the desert is a desolate and uninhabited location. He argues that while it may appear to be a vast and empty land, every hill and valley has a male who claims ownership over it. These men are fiercely protective of their land and will protect it against any outdoors threats. This challenges the idea that the desert is a lawless and unclaimed area, and rather emphasizes the strong sense of neighborhood and ownership within the desert. Lawrence's words clarified the complex and elaborate social structures that exist within relatively barren landscapes.
"Households, cities, countries, and nations have enjoyed great happiness when a single individual has taken heed of the Good and Beautiful. Such people not only liberate themselves; they fill those they meet with a free mind"
"I say: The time has come for my courageous and proud people, after decades of displacement and colonial occupation and ceaseless suffering, to live like other peoples of the earth, free in a sovereign and independent homeland"
"The 4th Amendment and the personal rights it secures have a long history. At the very core stands the right of a man to retreat into his own home and there be free from unreasonable governmental intrusion"
"We want to reduce the size of government in half as a percentage of GNP over the next 25 years. We want to reduce the number of people depending on government so there is more autonomy and more free citizens"
