Clifford Geertz Quotes

The point of literary criticism in anthropology is not to replace research, but to find out how it is that we are persuasive.

I got my degree in rhetoric.

To me, what philosophy does best is reflect on knowledge that's generated in other areas.

He who frames the question wins the debate.

The person who knows "how" will always have a job. The person who knows "why" will always be his boss

The purpose of oratory or philosophy [is to] respectively leave people in a fighting or thoughtful mood.

Rhetoric is the counterpart of logic; since both are conversant with subjects of such a nature as it is the business of all to have a certain knowledge of, and which belong to no distinct science. Wherefore all men in some way participate of both; since all, to a certain extent, attempt, as well to sift, as to maintain an argument; as well to defend themselves, as to impeach.

To be able to be caught up into the world of thought - that is being educated.

Thought must be divided against itself before it can come to any knowledge of itself.

In argument similes are like songs in love; they describe much, but prove nothing.

A good teacher must know the rules; a good pupil, the exceptions.

Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

We give you the facts. I told you information is power - knowledge is power. We can't be in an ideological battle to redeem the soul of this country if we don't have the facts.

The duty of rhetoric is to deal with such matters as we deliberate upon without arts or systems to guide us, in the hearing of persons who cannot take in at a glance a complicated argument or follow a long chain of reasoning.

I love arguing. I always say that I'll never win a physical battle, but I can always win a mental battle. I mean, not really, because I never really argue with anyone.

Education, this is the great word which sums up our whole doctrine

We will acquire knowledge and science wherever they are to be found and we will stuff them into the head of every individual in the country. No limits, no conditions can be attached to knowledge and science.

... politics of meaning

Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.

[Logic and philosophy] were of no use, in the church or the state, in the cloister or the court, in peace or war, at home or abroad or anywhere but in the schools

Use your logick, and then your rhetorick. Rhetorick without logick, is like a tree with leaves and blossoms, but no root; yet I confess more are taken with rhetorick than logick, because they are catched with a free expression, when they understand not reason. Logick must be natural, or it is worth nothing at all: Your rhetorick figures may be learned.

Eloquence and wisdom are by no means the same thing. They are sometimes united, but not necessarily ; perhaps never when eloquence is the mere gift of nature rather than the slow result of nature and art conjoined. A ready supply of glittering language and an ardent conception, i. e. a fertile imagination, and quick feelings, united to a retentive memory—these are together quite sufficient to make an orator, but by no means to make a wise man; to make a speaker or even a leader in a popular assembly, but not necessarily a statesman.

Nature has ordained that the man who is pleading his own cause before a large audience, will be more readily listened to than he who has no object in view other than the public benefit.

As reason is the glory of man, so the lamp of reason is eloquence.

Power comes through public persuasion.