--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Culture] denotes an historically…" description: "\"[Culture] denotes an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.png" --- # \[Culture\] denotes an historically transmitted pattern of… ![“[Culture] denotes an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms, by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life.” quote by Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.png) > “\[Culture\] denotes an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms, by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life.” [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Culture is a shared system of symbols and meanings that shapes how people communicate and understand life. **In simple terms:** Culture is shared symbols that guide behavior and thought. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect cultural symbols in communication. Themes culture communication meaning knowledge Mood analytical thoughtful Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - cross‑cultural training - education - media analysis - policy making Key Concepts symbolic anthropology social constructs interpretive frameworks Questions to Reflect On - What symbols shape your worldview? - How do cultural patterns affect daily decisions? A Different Perspective Culture definitions can be abstract and hard to operationalize in practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Communicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicate/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Culture Denotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-denotes-5819370/) [Embodied Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embodied-symbols-5819372/) [Expressed Symbolic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressed-symbolic-5819371/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Meanings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meanings/) [Meanings Embodied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meanings-embodied-5632679/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Symbolic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolic/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) ## Related quotes > [“Recall Clifford Geertz definition of culture: "an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-griswold/recall-clifford-geertz-definition-of-culture-an-historically/) [Wendy Griswold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-griswold/) > [“The more I read, the more I felt my understanding of the universe slip away from me. Columbine symbolized both 'desertion' and 'folly'; poppy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-diffenbaugh/the-more-i-read-the-more-i-felt-my-understanding-of-the-universe-slip/) [Vanessa Diffenbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-diffenbaugh/) > [“Myths remind us of the symbolic presence within all the lost-and-found adventures that alone can give life meaning. Losing touch with the world of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-meade/myths-remind-us-of-the-symbolic-presence-within-all-the-lost-and/) [Michael Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-meade/) > [All meanings, we know, depend on the key of interpretation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/all-meanings-we-know-depend-on-the-key-of-interpretation/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“ Alpha can refer to the first of something," said Kai, "or the beginning of everything . It can be attributed to a particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/alpha-can-refer-to-the-first-of-something-said-kai-or-the-beginning/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“A woman's situation, i.e those meanings derived from the total context in which she comes to maturity, disposes her to apprehend her body not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/a-woman-s-situation-i-e-those-meanings-derived-from-the-total-context/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“But the greatest cause of verbicide is the fact that most people are obviously far more anxious to express their approval and disapproval of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/but-the-greatest-cause-of-verbicide-is-the-fact-that-most-people-are/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“From my book, Care for the Carer, An Alzheimer's Memoir "Is there a cure?" Jane asked repeatedly. This simple sentence had several possible meanings:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-camhi/from-my-book-care-for-the-carer-an-alzheimer-s-memoir-is-there-a-cure/) [Jeff Camhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-camhi/) > [“Words in the head are sticky and social creatures – when you finally pull one out, you're liable to get lots of bits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-carlson/words-in-the-head-are-sticky-and-social-creatures-when-you-finally/) [Greg Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-carlson/) > [It's meanings that we need to coax into our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/it-s-meanings-that-we-need-to-coax-into-our-lives/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I'm a product of a military dictatorship. Under a dictatorship, you cannot trust information or dispense it freely because of censorship. So Brazilians become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vik-muniz/i-m-a-product-of-a-military-dictatorship-under-a-dictatorship-you/) [Vik Muniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vik-muniz/) > [I'm not against asking the audience to work, but I think what you have now is a sort of gratuitous deconstruction as a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-miller/i-m-not-against-asking-the-audience-to-work-but-i-think-what-you-have/) [Jonathan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-miller/) > [The word good has many meanings...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-word-good-has-many-meanings/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“Tonight A friendly breeze Will agitate roots of meanings. Wonder will flap its wings. Deep in the night, an insect Will gnaw At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sohrab-sepehri/tonight-a-friendly-breeze-will-agitate-roots-of-meanings-wonder-will/) [Sohrab Sepehri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sohrab-sepehri/) > [“Like everything that's any good, it has about twenty different meanings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/like-everything-that-s-any-good-it-has-about-twenty-different-meanings/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) ## More by Clifford Geertz > [My instincts are always against people who want to fasten some sort of hegemony onto things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/my-instincts-are-always-against-people-who-want-to-fasten-some-sort/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [One of the most significant facts about humanity may finally be that we all begin with the natural equipment to a live a thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/one-of-the-most-significant-facts-about-humanity-may-finally-be-that/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [“One of the most significant facts about us may finally be that we all begin with the natural equipment to live a thousand kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/one-of-the-most-significant-facts-about-us-may-finally-be-that-we-all/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [Understanding a people's culture exposes their normalness without reducing their particularity...It renders them accessible: setting them in the frame of their own banalities, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/understanding-a-people-s-culture-exposes-their-normalness-without/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [I think what's known about neurology is still scattered and uncertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/i-think-what-s-known-about-neurology-is-still-scattered-and-uncertain/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [The way in which mathematicians and physicists and historians talk is quite different, and what a physicist means by physical intuition and what a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/the-way-in-which-mathematicians-and-physicists-and-historians-talk-is/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [It's always amusing to look at how something early in the 20th century was written in anthropology and how it's written now. There's been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/it-s-always-amusing-to-look-at-how-something-early-in-the-20th/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [Cultural analysis is intrinsically incomplete. And, worse than that, the more deeply it goes the less complete it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/cultural-analysis-is-intrinsically-incomplete-and-worse-than-that-the/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [What we call our data are really our own constructions of other people’s constructions of what they and their compatriots are up to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/what-we-call-our-data-are-really-our-own-constructions-of-other/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [It may be in the cultural particularities of people — in their oddities — that some of the most instructive revelations of what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/it-may-be-in-the-cultural-particularities-of-people-in-their-oddities/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [The point of literary criticism in anthropology is not to replace research, but to find out how it is that we are persuasive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/the-point-of-literary-criticism-in-anthropology-is-not-to-replace/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [“What the ethnographer is in fact faced with—except when (as, of course, he must do) he is pursuing the more automatized routines of data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/what-the-ethnographer-is-in-fact-faced-with-except-when-as-of-course/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [Most anthropologists are doing straightforward ethnography, and should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/most-anthropologists-are-doing-straightforward-ethnography-and-should/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [Learning to exist in a world quite different from that which formed you is the condition, these days, of pursuing research you can on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/learning-to-exist-in-a-world-quite-different-from-that-which-formed/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) > [I have a social philosophy; you have political opinions; he has an ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/i-have-a-social-philosophy-you-have-political-opinions-he-has-an/) [Clifford Geertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) [Explore all 58 Clifford Geertz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "[Culture] denotes an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms, by means of which men communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clifford Geertz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/culture-denotes-an-historically-transmitted-pattern-of-meanings/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/culture-denotes-an-historically-transmitted-pattern-of-meanings/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“[Culture] denotes an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols, a system of inherited…” — Clifford Geertz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Clifford Geertz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-geertz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "[Culture] denotes an historically transmitted pattern...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/culture-denotes-an-historically-transmitted-pattern-of-meanings/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-geertz/culture-denotes-an-historically-transmitted-pattern-of-meanings/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```