“A nation that fails to plan intelligently for the development and protection of its precious waters will be condemned to wither because of its shortsightedness. The hard lessons of history are clear, written on the deserted sands and ruins of once proud civilizations.” HardNationsWaterClearPlansFailingWrittenDevelopmentProudCivilizationLessonsEnvironmentalProtectionRuinsSandDesertedHard Lessons Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1968-1969 Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1968-1969