According to an ancient Middle Eastern story, two nomadic tribes were preparing to go into battle over the right to use a well in the desert. The son of one of the tribal leaders asked his father why he was going into battle when the opposing tribe was so strong and would surely inflict heavy casualties on his father's tribe, to which his father replied: "I cannot let another tribe take our well."

"But we will probably lose the battle," the son persisted, "and they will get the well anyway."