I had a hard time convincing students that they were going to North Africa to understand the North Africans, not to understand themselves.

Quote by Clifford Geertz

Topics: Clifford Geertz Quotes

Meaning is socially, historically, and rhetorically constructed.

Meaning is socially, historically, and rhetorically constructed.

I agree with Chomsky in almost nothing. When it comes to innate structures and so...

I agree with Chomsky in almost nothing. When it comes to innate structures and so...

I think feminism has had a major impact on anthropology.

I think feminism has had a major impact on anthropology.

The North African mule talks always of his mother's brother, the horse, but never of...

The North African mule talks always of his mother's brother, the horse, but never of...

The point of literary criticism in anthropology is not to replace research, but to find...

The point of literary criticism in anthropology is not to replace research, but to find...

People keep asking how anthropology is different from sociology, and everybody gets nervous.

People keep asking how anthropology is different from sociology, and everybody gets nervous.

If there's ever a place where you can't argue that you can put the facts...

If there's ever a place where you can't argue that you can put the facts...

I never leave a sentence or a paragraph until I'm satisfied with it.

I never leave a sentence or a paragraph until I'm satisfied with it.

Most anthropologists are doing straightforward ethnography, and should.

Most anthropologists are doing straightforward ethnography, and should.

I don't write drafts. I write from the beginning to the end, and when it's...

I don't write drafts. I write from the beginning to the end, and when it's...

Gender consciousness has become involved in almost every intellectual field: history, literature, science, anthropology. There's...

Gender consciousness has become involved in almost every intellectual field: history, literature, science, anthropology. There's...

I'm an inveterate fox and not a hedgehog, so I always think you should try...

I'm an inveterate fox and not a hedgehog, so I always think you should try...

Anthropology in general has always been fairly hospitable to female scholars, and even to feminist...

Anthropology in general has always been fairly hospitable to female scholars, and even to feminist...

I don't think things are moving toward an omega point; I think they're moving toward...

I don't think things are moving toward an omega point; I think they're moving toward...

I do think the attempt to raise consciousness has succeeded. People are very aware of...

I do think the attempt to raise consciousness has succeeded. People are very aware of...

I think the American university system still seems to be the best system in the...

I think the American university system still seems to be the best system in the...

The way in which mathematicians and physicists and historians talk is quite different, and what...

The way in which mathematicians and physicists and historians talk is quite different, and what...

I've often been accused of making anthropology into literature, but anthropology is also field research....

I've often been accused of making anthropology into literature, but anthropology is also field research....

If I remember correctly, a writer is someone who wants to convey information. Language or...

If I remember correctly, a writer is someone who wants to convey information. Language or...

I think the perception of there being a deep gulf between science and the humanities...

I think the perception of there being a deep gulf between science and the humanities...