The North African mule talks always of his mother's brother, the horse, but never of his father, the donkey, in favor of others supposedly more reputable.

Clifford Geertz. pp. J.

Clifford James Geertz (August 23 1926 – October 30 2006) was an American anthropologist who is remembered mostly for his strong support for and influence on the practice of symbolic anthropology and who was considered "for three decades. " He served until his death as professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study Princeton.