--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the sky were to suddenly open up…" description: "\"If the sky were to suddenly open up, there would be no law, there would be no rule. There would be only you and your memories, the choices you've made..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/419/katharine-ross-20786_choices_if-the-sky-were-to-suddenly-open-up-ther_1391178.jpg" --- # If the sky were to suddenly open up, there would be no… ![“If the sky were to suddenly open up, there would be no law, there would be no rule. There would be only you and your memories, the choices you've made and the people you've touched.” quote by Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/419/katharine-ross-20786_choices_if-the-sky-were-to-suddenly-open-up-ther_1391178.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/419/katharine-ross-20786_choices_if-the-sky-were-to-suddenly-open-up-ther_1391178.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/419/katharine-ross-20786_choices_if-the-sky-were-to-suddenly-open-up-ther_1391178.jpg) > “If the sky were to suddenly open up, there would be no law, there would be no rule. There would be only you and your memories, the choices you've made and the people you've touched.” [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When external order collapses, only personal history and relationships define us. **In simple terms:** Without rules, you are defined by memories and choices. Key Takeaway Focus on meaningful connections. Themes identity memory choice relationships Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - life crises - loss of authority - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts existentialism personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What memories guide your decisions? - How do you maintain identity without external rules? A Different Perspective Human nature also seeks structure, even in chaos. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) ## Related quotes > [“As he stood there the cloudy day darkened even more, the air felt heavier, the gunmetal gray sky suddenly hung low and oppressive, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-greaney/as-he-stood-there-the-cloudy-day-darkened-even-more-the-air-felt/) [Mark Greaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-greaney/) > [One moment flying in green sunlight, then the sky suddenly grey and dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/one-moment-flying-in-green-sunlight-then-the-sky-suddenly-grey-and/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [“Night, which in Autumn seems to fall from the sky so suddenly, chilled us...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/night-which-in-autumn-seems-to-fall-from-the-sky-so-suddenly-chilled/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“We had taken her for granted until she was no longer there, like an ancient tree you don't truly see until it is felled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-maitland/we-had-taken-her-for-granted-until-she-was-no-longer-there-like-an/) [Karen Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-maitland/) > [“the rule of law is not the same as rule by law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-rule-of-law-is-not-the-same-as-rule-by-law/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Americans could once boast proudly that their system set the benchmark for the world; the United States was the rule of law. 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The laws of the lawgiver are impotent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifford-allbutt/in-science-law-is-not-a-rule-imposed-from-without-but-an-expression/) [Clifford Allbutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifford-allbutt/) > [The controversy between rule of law and rule of men was never relevant to women because, along with juveniles, imbeciles, and other classes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freda-adler/the-controversy-between-rule-of-law-and-rule-of-men-was-never/) [Freda Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freda-adler/) > [We are not in the regime of Aurangzeb. We are in the regime of rule of law. When rule of law is concerned, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veerappa-moily/we-are-not-in-the-regime-of-aurangzeb-we-are-in-the-regime-of-rule-of/) [Veerappa Moily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veerappa-moily/) > [Let's think about how we can bring economic development, let's see if people could learn a little more of the rule of law, rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/let-s-think-about-how-we-can-bring-economic-development-let-s-see-if/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [“The golden rule says do unto others as you would have done unto you. The mother-in-law rule says do unto others as they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-abel-lieberman/the-golden-rule-says-do-unto-others-as-you-would-have-done-unto-you/) Susan Abel Lieberman ## More by Katharine Ross > [Marriage is not different from a relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/marriage-is-not-different-from-a-relationship/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [I don't have a favorite part. My current part is my favorite part. And when I do the next thing, that will be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/i-don-t-have-a-favorite-part-my-current-part-is-my-favorite-part-and/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [I don't want to be a big movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-big-movie-star/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [The hell with the aging process. It happens to everyone - you just keep your mind active, you keep physically active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/the-hell-with-the-aging-process-it-happens-to-everyone-you-just-keep/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [You have to know what you want out of your work or out of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/you-have-to-know-what-you-want-out-of-your-work-or-out-of-your-life/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [When you hit 40, you suddenly find that they are looking at younger actresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/when-you-hit-40-you-suddenly-find-that-they-are-looking-at-younger/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [One of an actor's fears is that your current project could be your last project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/one-of-an-actor-s-fears-is-that-your-current-project-could-be-your/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [I like to sit and talk to someone, and if they want to write about it, OK. 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That always appealed to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/i-have-been-fascinated-with-survival-and-having-to-go-on-no-matter/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [I'm bored. I'm bored with the kind of parts I get offered. I can do more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/i-m-bored-i-m-bored-with-the-kind-of-parts-i-get-offered-i-can-do-more/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [In 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' I play a schoolteacher who is older than I am in life - and I like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/in-butch-cassidy-and-the-sundance-kid-i-play-a-schoolteacher-who-is/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) > [When I first came to Hollywood, I couldn't afford a telephone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-ross/when-i-first-came-to-hollywood-i-couldn-t-afford-a-telephone/) [Katharine Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) [Explore all 30 Katharine Ross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-ross/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the sky were to suddenly open up, there would be no law, there would be no rule. 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