Culture Quote by Wendy Griswold
““Recall Clifford Geertz definition of culture: "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 the attitudes toward life.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Theories of Culture, Wendy Griswold, 1994
Culture is a shared system of symbols and meanings that shapes how people understand life.
In simple terms: Culture is shared symbols and ideas that guide behavior.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect diverse cultural symbols.
Themes
culture
communication
meaning
knowledge
Mood
analytical
educational
Type
theoretical
academic
When to use this quote
- anthropology classes
- cross‑cultural training
- media analysis
Key Concepts
symbolic anthropology
social constructionism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do symbols shape daily decisions?
- In what ways does culture influence perception?
A Different Perspective
Definitions can be overly abstract.
![“[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/img-quotes/53a/clifford-geertz-11500_attitude_culture-denotes-an-historically-transmit_747021.jpg)
