--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dexter,' Debs said, jerking her head at…" description: "\"“Dexter,' Debs said, jerking her head at me. 'Get some smelling salts or something. You and Deke help her up.' (...) Deke looked at me anxiously, remin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/jeff-lindsay-1259_dexter_dexter-debs-said-jerking-her-head-at-me_832408.jpg" --- # Dexter,' Debs said, jerking her head at me. 'Get some… ![“Dexter,' Debs said, jerking her head at me. 'Get some smelling salts or something. You and Deke help her up.' (...) Deke looked at me anxiously, reminding me very much of a large and handsome dog who needs a stick to fetch. 'Hey, you got some of that smelling stuff?' he said. Apparently it had…” quote by Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/jeff-lindsay-1259_dexter_dexter-debs-said-jerking-her-head-at-me_832408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/jeff-lindsay-1259_dexter_dexter-debs-said-jerking-her-head-at-me_832408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/jeff-lindsay-1259_dexter_dexter-debs-said-jerking-her-head-at-me_832408.jpg) > ““Dexter,' Debs said, jerking her head at me. 'Get some smelling salts or something. You and Deke help her up.' (...) Deke looked at me anxiously, reminding me very much of a large and handsome dog who needs a stick to fetch. 'Hey, you got some of that smelling stuff?' he said. Apparently it had become universally accepted that Dexter was the Eternal Keeper of the Smelling Salts. I had no idea where that baffling canard had come from, but in truth, I was completely without. Luckily, Mrs Aldovar apparently was not interested in sniffing anything.”” [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) ## 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 humorously tasked with fetching smelling salts, highlighting absurdity and the protagonist’s cluelessness. **In simple terms:** Absurd task reveals cluelessness. Key Takeaway Embrace absurdity, stay aware. Themes absurdity helpfulness confusion Mood darkly ironic Type satirical narrative When to use this quote - emergency situations - comic relief - teamwork - miscommunication Key Concepts dark humor character dynamics narrative irony Questions to Reflect On - How does absurd humor affect tension? - What does the “Eternal Keeper” title imply? A Different Perspective The joke may downplay seriousness of emergencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dexter morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dexter-morgan/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [“Dexter the Magnificent, who doth bestride the world like a Colossus, many lovely corpses at his feet, brought to you in live color just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/dexter-the-magnificent-who-doth-bestride-the-world-like-a-colossus/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I'm a very neat monster." ~Dexter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-m-a-very-neat-monster-dexter-morgan/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“But it's different for a girl, and Astor is at the age- It's not too dry, is it?" She said, frowning at my plate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/but-it-s-different-for-a-girl-and-astor-is-at-the-age-it-s-not-too/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [It’s like, everything really is two ways, the way we all pretend it is and the way it really is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-s-like-everything-really-is-two-ways-the-way-we-all-pretend-it-is/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“The more I heard it in my thoughts, the more sense it made. And beyond sense, it became a kind of seductive mantra.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/the-more-i-heard-it-in-my-thoughts-the-more-sense-it-made-and-beyond/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“That left either magical powers or coincidence, and although I have nothing at all against Harry Potter, coincidence got my vote.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/that-left-either-magical-powers-or-coincidence-and-although-i-have/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“Vince and I had reached the point where there was nothing else we could think of to do with the taco wrapper, and since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/vince-and-i-had-reached-the-point-where-there-was-nothing-else-we/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I'm a very neat monster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-m-a-very-neat-monster/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“Is that why you're crying?" (...) "It's just hormones," she said. "I didn't want anyone to see." I skipped over the image of anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/is-that-why-you-re-crying-it-s-just-hormones-she-said-i-didn-t-want/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [ “And although I take no credit for it, I am presentable enough; I clean up good, as we natives like to say." \[Dexter Morgan\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-although-i-take-no-credit-for-it-i-am-presentable-enough-i-clean/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“She looked up and ran her eyes over me, slowly, while I stood and wondered why. Had she forgotten what I looked like? But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/she-looked-up-and-ran-her-eyes-over-me-slowly-while-i-stood-and/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“Yako went to the boxes holding Lilly and Candice, undid the bungee cords, and opened them. She used smelling salts to arouse them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-braungart/yako-went-to-the-boxes-holding-lilly-and-candice-undid-the-bungee/) [Karl Braungart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-braungart/) > [“she caught a glimpse of flat, tan abdomen, and suddenly she didn’t need coffee. She needed smelling salts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-brogan/she-caught-a-glimpse-of-flat-tan-abdomen-and-suddenly-she-didn-t-need/) [Tracy Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-brogan/) > [“I always figured nerves were for Jane Austen characters and helium-voiced girls who never buy their round; I would no more have turned shaky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/i-always-figured-nerves-were-for-jane-austen-characters-and-helium/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [When I played for the Steelers and I got my bell rung, I'd take smelling salts and go right back out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/when-i-played-for-the-steelers-and-i-got-my-bell-rung-i-d-take/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) ## More by Jeff Lindsay > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“Rather than see me or have me touch it again, it died.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/rather-than-see-me-or-have-me-touch-it-again-it-died/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“We don't get to pick our kin. The best we can hope for is to survive them...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/we-don-t-get-to-pick-our-kin-the-best-we-can-hope-for-is-to-survive/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I was never more alive than when the Dark Passenger was driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-was-never-more-alive-than-when-the-dark-passenger-was-driving/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I had killed our careful relationship by driving my tongue through its heart and pushing it off a cliff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-had-killed-our-careful-relationship-by-driving-my-tongue-through/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I had become a perfect fake human, saying the stupid and pointless things that humans say to each other all day long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-had-become-a-perfect-fake-human-saying-the-stupid-and-pointless/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“Deborah led me away from it and over to the far end of the room. “Dexter,” she said, “promise me you didn’t kill this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/deborah-led-me-away-from-it-and-over-to-the-far-end-of-the-room/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Detective, I don't know where the boyfriend is, really," I said. And it was true, considering tide, current, and the habits of marine scavengers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/detective-i-don-t-know-where-the-boyfriend-is-really-i-said-and-it/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“I came, I saw, I blew chunks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-came-i-saw-i-blew-chunks/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [And what did you do last night, Dexter? Oh, I played with my dolls while a friend chopped up my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-what-did-you-do-last-night-dexter-oh-i-played-with-my-dolls-while/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [In that tremendous flash of freedom, on my way to do The Thing for the first time, sanctioned by Almighty Harry, I receded, faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/in-that-tremendous-flash-of-freedom-on-my-way-to-do-the-thing-for-the/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“It would be much too difficult for anyone to get in and out of this area, especially if they were carrying questionable loads of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-would-be-much-too-difficult-for-anyone-to-get-in-and-out-of-this/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“I spent the rest of the workday on routine paperwork, snarling at misplaced files and seething at the stupidity of everyone else's report writing--when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-spent-the-rest-of-the-workday-on-routine-paperwork-snarling-at/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [After a long moment I closed the freezer door. I wanted to lie down and press my cheek against the cool linoleum. Instead I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/after-a-long-moment-i-closed-the-freezer-door-i-wanted-to-lie-down/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I mean, really: what kind of person could possibly dislike me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-mean-really-what-kind-of-person-could-possibly-dislike-me/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) [Explore all 258 Jeff Lindsay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) ## More Dexter quotes > [“Serial killer aren't creative." "Watch a little Dexter and get back to me on that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/serial-killer-aren-t-creative-watch-a-little-dexter-and-get-back-to/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [I love 'Dexter.' The dark sense of humor is wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/i-love-dexter-the-dark-sense-of-humor-is-wonderful/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [I never thought that I would be so attracted to television, but I don't think gigs like 'Dexter' come along too often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-never-thought-that-i-would-be-so-attracted-to-television-but-i-don/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [“Deborah led me away from it and over to the far end of the room. “Dexter,” she said, “promise me you didn’t kill this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/deborah-led-me-away-from-it-and-over-to-the-far-end-of-the-room/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Detective, I don't know where the boyfriend is, really," I said. And it was true, considering tide, current, and the habits of marine scavengers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/detective-i-don-t-know-where-the-boyfriend-is-really-i-said-and-it/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [And what did you do last night, Dexter? Oh, I played with my dolls while a friend chopped up my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-what-did-you-do-last-night-dexter-oh-i-played-with-my-dolls-while/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“I’m not expressing myself very well—’ ‘Dexter, I understand you perfectly, that’s the problem—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-m-not-expressing-myself-very-well-dexter-i-understand-you-perfectly/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [I really like the stuff that Showtime puts out. I think that 'Homeland' is phenomenal. I think 'Dexter' is amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/i-really-like-the-stuff-that-showtime-puts-out-i-think-that-homeland/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [I tell you what it is. It's...when I didn't see you, I thought about you every day, I mean every day in some way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-tell-you-what-it-is-it-s-when-i-didn-t-see-you-i-thought-about-you/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“She stared at me "You have a message," she said. "On you machine." I looked over at my answering machine. Sure enough, the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/she-stared-at-me-you-have-a-message-she-said-on-you-machine-i-looked/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [For the moment, he's off plotting his Igoresque revenge. I don't know about you, but I have this image of him rubbing his hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/for-the-moment-he-s-off-plotting-his-igoresque-revenge-i-don-t-know/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You know what, I'm happy to say that everything outside of 'Dexter' feels like a vacation, and I don't mean to say anything negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/you-know-what-i-m-happy-to-say-that-everything-outside-of-dexter/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [ “And although I take no credit for it, I am presentable enough; I clean up good, as we natives like to say." \[Dexter Morgan\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/and-although-i-take-no-credit-for-it-i-am-presentable-enough-i-clean/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [“He loved her, and he would love her until the day he was too old for loving--but he could not have her. So he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/he-loved-her-and-he-would-love-her-until-the-day-he-was-too-old-for/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Nevertheless she feels a great wave of affection for Dexter Mayhew. In eight years not a day has gone by when she hasn't thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/nevertheless-she-feels-a-great-wave-of-affection-for-dexter-mayhew-in/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) Browse all 126 Dexter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Dexter,' Debs said, jerking her head at me. 'Get some smelling salts or something. You and Deke help her up.' (...) Deke looked at me anxiously, reminding me very much of a large and handsome dog who needs a stick to fetch. 'Hey, you got some of that smelling stuff?' he said. Apparently it had become universally accepted that Dexter was the Eternal Keeper of the Smelling Salts. I had no idea where that baffling canard had come from, but in truth, I was completely without. 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