---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There were, however, a few exceptions…"
description: "\"“There were, however, a few exceptions. One was Norma Dodsworth, the poet, who had not unpleasantly drunk but had been sensible enough to pass out befo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f77/arthur-c-clarke-640_alcohol_there-were-however-a-few-exceptions-one_2701235.jpg"
---

#  There were, however, a few exceptions. One was Norma…

![“There were, however, a few exceptions. One was Norma Dodsworth, the poet, who had not unpleasantly drunk but had been sensible enough to pass out before any violent action proved necessary. He had been deposited, not very gently, on the lawn, where it was hoped that a hyena would give him a rude…” quote by Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f77/arthur-c-clarke-640_alcohol_there-were-however-a-few-exceptions-one_2701235.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f77/arthur-c-clarke-640_alcohol_there-were-however-a-few-exceptions-one_2701235.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f77/arthur-c-clarke-640_alcohol_there-were-however-a-few-exceptions-one_2701235.jpg)

> ““There were, however, a few exceptions. One was Norma Dodsworth, the poet, who had not unpleasantly drunk but had been sensible enough to pass out before any violent action proved necessary. He had been deposited, not very gently, on the lawn, where it was hoped that a hyena would give him a rude awakening. For all practical purposes he could, therefore, be regarded as absent.””

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A character is rendered incapacitated and left to be ignored, effectively removed from the narrative.

**In simple terms:** He is treated as if he does not exist.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when people are being excluded.

Themes

exclusion violence indifference

Mood

somber critical

Type

political social commentary

When to use this quote

- conflict zones
- prisoner treatment
- social neglect
- political oppression

Key Concepts

power dynamics dehumanization

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean to be invisible in society?
- How can we intervene when others are ignored?

A Different Perspective

The situation may be a strategic choice, not just cruelty.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Dodsworth Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dodsworth-poet-2734878/) [Drink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drink/) [Drunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drunk/) [Exceptions Norma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exceptions-norma-2734876/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Hyena Rude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hyena-rude-2734881/) [Norma Dodsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/norma-dodsworth-2734874/) [Poet Unpleasantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-unpleasantly-2734880/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/)

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