--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One day she told the class, ‘Nancy…" description: "\"“One day she told the class, ‘Nancy Clutter is always in a hurry, but she always has time. And that’s one definition of a lady.’ ”\" — Truman Capote" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/truman-capote-376_lady_one-day-she-told-the-class-nancy-clutter_2337771.jpg" --- # One day she told the class, ‘Nancy Clutter is always in a… ![“One day she told the class, ‘Nancy Clutter is always in a hurry, but she always has time. And that’s one definition of a lady.’” quote by Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/truman-capote-376_lady_one-day-she-told-the-class-nancy-clutter_2337771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/truman-capote-376_lady_one-day-she-told-the-class-nancy-clutter_2337771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f6/truman-capote-376_lady_one-day-she-told-the-class-nancy-clutter_2337771.jpg) > ““One day she told the class, ‘Nancy Clutter is always in a hurry, but she always has time. And that’s one definition of a lady.’ ”” [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lady balances constant busyness with the ability to make time, defining true femininity as composed yet efficient. **In simple terms:** Being busy doesn’t mean you lack time. Key Takeaway Cultivate efficiency without sacrificing poise. Themes femininity time management identity Mood reflective inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - social expectations - career planning Key Concepts busyness presence definition Questions to Reflect On - What does “having time” truly mean? - How can we support women in managing responsibilities? A Different Perspective The definition may ignore structural constraints on women’s time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class Nancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-nancy-5647274/) [Clutter Hurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter-hurry-3018313/) [Definition Lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-lady-3018314/) [Lady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lady/) [Nancy Clutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nancy-clutter-3018312/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Nancy clutter is always in a hurry, but she always has time. And that is the definition of a lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/nancy-clutter-is-always-in-a-hurry-but-she-always-has-time-and-that/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Nancy Clutter is always in a hurry, but she always has time. And that's one definition of a lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/nancy-clutter-is-always-in-a-hurry-but-she-always-has-time-and-that-s/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Every discussion of the status of woman is complicated by the existence of the lady. She overshadows the rest of her sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-james-smith-putnam/every-discussion-of-the-status-of-woman-is-complicated-by-the/) [Emily James Smith Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-james-smith-putnam/) > [In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank whom the emperor loved more than any of the others. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/in-a-certain-reign-there-was-a-lady-not-of-the-first-rank-whom-the/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) > [“Age doesn’t make you a man my lady. If he’s that easily swayed away from a beauty such as you then he’s still a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-leighanne-grimm-weever/age-doesn-t-make-you-a-man-my-lady-if-he-s-that-easily-swayed-away/) [E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-leighanne-grimm-weever/) > [Maybe because Im a nice and sweet person in life, I like the darker roles. The really dark one is Lady Macbeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/maybe-because-im-a-nice-and-sweet-person-in-life-i-like-the-darker/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [A good leader brins the lady partner dance level to a superior level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-burns/a-good-leader-brins-the-lady-partner-dance-level-to-a-superior-level/) [Donnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-burns/) > [I haven't talked to any young artists for a long time. But if we did sit down, I'd definitely tell them my viewpoint. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-haven-t-talked-to-any-young-artists-for-a-long-time-but-if-we-did/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) > [A fine lady; by which term I wish to express the result of that perfect education in taste and manner, down to every gesture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/a-fine-lady-by-which-term-i-wish-to-express-the-result-of-that/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [It's wonderful to see a young lady headbutt somebody and kick somebody's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-wonderful-to-see-a-young-lady-headbutt-somebody-and-kick/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [I loved 'Funny Lady' for whatever reason. People say they didn't know I could sing and dance. Well, nobody ever asks me - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-loved-funny-lady-for-whatever-reason-people-say-they-didn-t-know-i/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [People see me as a tomboy. But I can be quite a lady if I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-deol/people-see-me-as-a-tomboy-but-i-can-be-quite-a-lady-if-i-want-to-be/) [Esha Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-deol/) > [“Upon her butler’s announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/upon-her-butler-s-announcing-the-arrival-of-mr-ravenscar-lady/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“You know the legend, lady, but you don’t know the man. And damn if I’m not tempted to introduce you to the man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/you-know-the-legend-lady-but-you-don-t-know-the-man-and-damn-if-i-m/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) ## More by Truman Capote > [“You can beat your brains out for her, and she’ll hand you horseshit on a platter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-can-beat-your-brains-out-for-her-and-she-ll-hand-you-horseshit-on/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“The walls of the cell fell away, the sky came down, I saw the big yellow bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/the-walls-of-the-cell-fell-away-the-sky-came-down-i-saw-the-big/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Don't wanna ride on the devil's side...just wanna ride with you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/don-t-wanna-ride-on-the-devil-s-side-just-wanna-ride-with-you/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [Wrinkles and bones, white hair and diamonds: I can't wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/wrinkles-and-bones-white-hair-and-diamonds-i-can-t-wait/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [You can't blame a writer for what the characters say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/you-can-t-blame-a-writer-for-what-the-characters-say/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [There is really no practical help that one can offer; it is a matter of self-discovery, of one's own convictions, or working with one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/there-is-really-no-practical-help-that-one-can-offer-it-is-a-matter/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“...Narcissus was so egotist...he was merely another of us who, in our unshatterable isolation, recognized, on seeing his reflection, the beautiful comrade, the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/narcissus-was-so-egotist-he-was-merely-another-of-us-who-in-our/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Is it - I'm not certain - possible to love someone if your first interest is the use you can make of him? Doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/is-it-i-m-not-certain-possible-to-love-someone-if-your-first-interest/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [One of the most difficult things in writing a novel or anything at all is to choose the point of view from which it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-in-writing-a-novel-or-anything-at/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [I've never worked for a newspaper. I've had some very bad reviews in newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-ve-never-worked-for-a-newspaper-i-ve-had-some-very-bad-reviews-in/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [But, my dear, so few things are fulfilled: what are most lives but a series of incompleted episodes? 'We work in the dark, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/but-my-dear-so-few-things-are-fulfilled-what-are-most-lives-but-a/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“…she, glittery voyager of secure destination, steamed down the harbor with whistles whistling and confetti in the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/she-glittery-voyager-of-secure-destination-steamed-down-the-harbor/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“Because it's indeed difficult to portray, in any meaningful depth, another being, his appearance, speech, mentality, without to some degree, and often for quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/because-it-s-indeed-difficult-to-portray-in-any-meaningful-depth/) [truman capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“It's a bore, but the answer is good things only happen to you if you're good. Good? Honest is more what I mean. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/it-s-a-bore-but-the-answer-is-good-things-only-happen-to-you-if-you/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“In the courtyard there was an angel of black stone, and its angel head rose above giant elephant leaves; the stark glass angel eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/in-the-courtyard-there-was-an-angel-of-black-stone-and-its-angel-head/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) [Explore all 585 Truman Capote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) ## More Lady quotes > [“You know the legend, lady, but you don’t know the man. And damn if I’m not tempted to introduce you to the man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/you-know-the-legend-lady-but-you-don-t-know-the-man-and-damn-if-i-m/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [“Upon her butler’s announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/upon-her-butler-s-announcing-the-arrival-of-mr-ravenscar-lady/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [People see me as a tomboy. But I can be quite a lady if I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-deol/people-see-me-as-a-tomboy-but-i-can-be-quite-a-lady-if-i-want-to-be/) [Esha Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-deol/) > [I loved 'Funny Lady' for whatever reason. People say they didn't know I could sing and dance. Well, nobody ever asks me - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-caan/i-loved-funny-lady-for-whatever-reason-people-say-they-didn-t-know-i/) [James Caan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-caan/) > [It's wonderful to see a young lady headbutt somebody and kick somebody's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-wonderful-to-see-a-young-lady-headbutt-somebody-and-kick/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [A fine lady; by which term I wish to express the result of that perfect education in taste and manner, down to every gesture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/a-fine-lady-by-which-term-i-wish-to-express-the-result-of-that/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [“A lady need never apologize. ~ Joseph de Bonaparte (Brother of Napoleon)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pataki/a-lady-need-never-apologize-joseph-de-bonaparte-brother-of-napoleon/) [Allison Pataki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pataki/) > [I haven't talked to any young artists for a long time. But if we did sit down, I'd definitely tell them my viewpoint. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/i-haven-t-talked-to-any-young-artists-for-a-long-time-but-if-we-did/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [A good leader brins the lady partner dance level to a superior level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-burns/a-good-leader-brins-the-lady-partner-dance-level-to-a-superior-level/) [Donnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-burns/) > [Maybe because Im a nice and sweet person in life, I like the darker roles. The really dark one is Lady Macbeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/maybe-because-im-a-nice-and-sweet-person-in-life-i-like-the-darker/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [“Age doesn’t make you a man my lady. If he’s that easily swayed away from a beauty such as you then he’s still a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-leighanne-grimm-weever/age-doesn-t-make-you-a-man-my-lady-if-he-s-that-easily-swayed-away/) [E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-leighanne-grimm-weever/) > [In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank whom the emperor loved more than any of the others. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/in-a-certain-reign-there-was-a-lady-not-of-the-first-rank-whom-the/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) > [Every discussion of the status of woman is complicated by the existence of the lady. She overshadows the rest of her sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-james-smith-putnam/every-discussion-of-the-status-of-woman-is-complicated-by-the/) [Emily James Smith Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-james-smith-putnam/) > [“Have the last word ma'm," he said cheerfully. "It's a lady's privilege.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/have-the-last-word-ma-m-he-said-cheerfully-it-s-a-lady-s-privilege/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“Lady, no man in his right mind would want to kill you. There’s many things I could think of that a man would want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/lady-no-man-in-his-right-mind-would-want-to-kill-you-there-s-many/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 1,132 Lady quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lady/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“One day she told the class, ‘Nancy Clutter is always in a hurry, but she always has time. 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