"My instincts are always against people who want to fasten some sort of hegemony onto things"

In this quote, Clifford Geertz is expressing his suspect towards individuals who look for to establish supremacy or control over particular elements of society. He describes these people as wanting to "secure some sort of hegemony onto things," indicating that they are trying to impose their own beliefs and ideologies onto others. Geertz's usage of the word "instincts" recommends that this sensation of opposition towards hegemony is deeply ingrained in him and is not something he can easily ignore. This quote highlights Geertz's uncertainty towards those who seek power and control, and his belief in the significance of diversity and specific autonomy.