--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: New rules—we needed new rules. No one…" description: "\"“New rules—we needed new rules. No one opens the main doors but me. No one leaves the property without me. No one goes outside without letting me know...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/laura-anderson-kurk-7699_desperate-times_new-rules-we-needed-new-rules-no-one-ope_1110894.jpg" --- # New rules—we needed new rules. No one opens the main doors… ![“New rules—we needed new rules. No one opens the main doors but me. No one leaves the property without me. No one goes outside without letting me know. I had these horrible images in my head of kids being restrained against their wills, of kids crying my name out, begging me to help them when I was…” quote by Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/laura-anderson-kurk-7699_desperate-times_new-rules-we-needed-new-rules-no-one-ope_1110894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/laura-anderson-kurk-7699_desperate-times_new-rules-we-needed-new-rules-no-one-ope_1110894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3fa/laura-anderson-kurk-7699_desperate-times_new-rules-we-needed-new-rules-no-one-ope_1110894.jpg) > ““New rules—we needed new rules. No one opens the main doors but me. No one leaves the property without me. No one goes outside without letting me know. I had these horrible images in my head of kids being restrained against their wills, of kids crying my name out, begging me to help them when I was powerless. Desperate times… Lord, my soul called out. Lord…somehow that’s as far as I could get. I didn’t have the words.”” [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker felt compelled to enforce strict control for safety, driven by fear and desperation. **In simple terms:** Control driven by fear. Key Takeaway Balance safety with compassion. Themes control fear responsibility ethics Mood anxious urgent Type reflective ethical When to use this quote - childcare - security - emergency response - leadership Key Concepts authority psychology moral dilemma Questions to Reflect On - When does protection become oppression? - How can we trust others in crises? A Different Perspective Excessive control can cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desperate times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate-times/) [Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) [Glass-girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glass-girl/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Laura-anderson-kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laura-anderson-kurk/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Orphanage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orphanage/) [Perfect-glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-glass/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Young-adult-fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-adult-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [“Instead of crying and begging for your love, you can stand and fight for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/instead-of-crying-and-begging-for-your-love-you-can-stand-and-fight/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Am just a mistake to you? am I nothing but a pile of filth that you come and use? y do I fall on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alivia/am-just-a-mistake-to-you-am-i-nothing-but-a-pile-of-filth-that-you/) [Alivia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alivia/) > [“If you continue begging to help me, then you are more likely in need of help yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/if-you-continue-begging-to-help-me-then-you-are-more-likely-in-need/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [Help me cause you see me everyday as I walk in front of you begging for your help. Help me cause I'm crying every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/help-me-cause-you-see-me-everyday-as-i-walk-in-front-of-you-begging/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Begging for help never gets you any.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/begging-for-help-never-gets-you-any/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [As he did so, a wind rose up around him, around the man who had been called lord, Dragon Reborn, king, killer, lover and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jordan/as-he-did-so-a-wind-rose-up-around-him-around-the-man-who-had-been/) [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) > [“Similar evidence is found in Malachi, when the Lord says, “The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-a-grudem/similar-evidence-is-found-in-malachi-when-the-lord-says-the-lord-whom/) [Wayne A. Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-a-grudem/) > [What did it mean to be called “lord”? I’ll assume you’ve never had the honor, since I doubt any of you happen to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/what-did-it-mean-to-be-called-lord-i-ll-assume-you-ve-never-had-the/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“O Christie! never think it's time to die till you are called; for the Lord leaves us till we have done our work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/o-christie-never-think-it-s-time-to-die-till-you-are-called-for-the/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“In the "British Museum Papyrus" of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, parts of which may date to 7,000 years ago,3 the God Sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-m-murdock/in-the-british-museum-papyrus-of-the-egyptian-book-of-the-dead-parts/) [D.M. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-m-murdock/) > [ “6In my distress \[when I seemed surrounded\] I called upon the LORD And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/6in-my-distress-when-i-seemed-surrounded-i-called-upon-the-lord-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It used to be called the Lord's Day, now it is the weekend and if we group all holidays on weekends the devil will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/it-used-to-be-called-the-lord-s-day-now-it-is-the-weekend-and-if-we/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [“You have a choice to make Search your own heart to see if you have made such a decision. Have you personally called on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/you-have-a-choice-to-make-search-your-own-heart-to-see-if-you-have/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [“Every child of God is not called by the Lord to establish schools and orphan houses and to trust in the Lord for means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/every-child-of-god-is-not-called-by-the-lord-to-establish-schools-and/) [George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/) > [“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of the dead I cried, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ryan/i-called-out-to-the-lord-out-of-my-distress-and-he-answered-me-out-of/) Jonathan Ryan ## More by Laura Anderson Kurk > [“But I understood, now, that we don’t live only for ourselves. We’re connected by millions of shared experiences and dreams and nightmares, all tied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/but-i-understood-now-that-we-don-t-live-only-for-ourselves-we-re/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“Let’s go to town,” Jo said. “Take me to eat dinner at the hotel.” I sucked in a breath and stared at her for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/let-s-go-to-town-jo-said-take-me-to-eat-dinner-at-the-hotel-i-sucked/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“I turned my ear toward the door because I heard him breathing. When you’re alone and afraid, the simple sound of the steady in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/i-turned-my-ear-toward-the-door-because-i-heard-him-breathing-when/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“Every moment of our lives we make choices. 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It circled and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/i-reached-down-and-picked-up-a-baseball-bat-at-my-feet-and-i-flung-it/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“I finally understood why so much monkey business happened in the backs of buses. Put us in close proximity, with wheels spinning under us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/i-finally-understood-why-so-much-monkey-business-happened-in-the/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“Here’s what I learned about life when we were going through that. We’re all human and mortal. We’re all going to suffer and die.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/here-s-what-i-learned-about-life-when-we-were-going-through-that-we/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“His room was dark until he switched on his desk lamp. I sat on the floor next to his bed and watched him counting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/his-room-was-dark-until-he-switched-on-his-desk-lamp-i-sat-on-the/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“I could’ve gone on and on but the truth was all that mattered. “My brother died because someone was jealous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/i-could-ve-gone-on-and-on-but-the-truth-was-all-that-mattered-my/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“I’d known cruelty in a school—cruelty that would keep these amateurs up all night. But this kind of scene—crowds batting around a person because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/i-d-known-cruelty-in-a-school-cruelty-that-would-keep-these-amateurs/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“Uncommon anxiety came to us in common hours when other people were doing mundane things like taking out the trash or checking their phones.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/uncommon-anxiety-came-to-us-in-common-hours-when-other-people-were/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“With a damp palm, I turned the knob and cracked open the door. She was asleep in her freshly made bed. I can’t explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/with-a-damp-palm-i-turned-the-knob-and-cracked-open-the-door-she-was/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“1. All glass will break. 2. I am made of glass. 3. Therefore, I will break.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/1-all-glass-will-break-2-i-am-made-of-glass-3-therefore-i-will-break/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) > [“Quit worrying so much about the boards and nails of your life. Focus on the stuff that lasts.” He glanced through the window toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-anderson-kurk/quit-worrying-so-much-about-the-boards-and-nails-of-your-life-focus/) [Laura Anderson Kurk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) [Explore all 88 Laura Anderson Kurk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-anderson-kurk/) ## More Desperate times quotes > [Desperate times require desperate measures. What Lincoln and the Lobbyist for the Amendment and the Manager of the Amendment and himself, what they did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/desperate-times-require-desperate-measures-what-lincoln-and-the/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I just wanted to make sure that yes, that those horror - they worked as a genre. To me, I just wanted to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-farmiga/i-just-wanted-to-make-sure-that-yes-that-those-horror-they-worked-as/) [Vera Farmiga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-farmiga/) > [“But each one of us is guilty insofar as he remained inactive. The guilt of passivity is different. 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I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-beck/desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures-i/) [Jamie Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-beck/) > [“Desperate times call for hopeful measures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-doiron/desperate-times-call-for-hopeful-measures/) [Paul Doiron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-doiron/) > [Desperate times call for desperate analogies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-diamond/desperate-times-call-for-desperate-analogies/) [John Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-diamond/) > [Desperate times make for desperate songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/desperate-times-make-for-desperate-songs/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [“desperate times offered a certain flexibility in the rules of absolution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/desperate-times-offered-a-certain-flexibility-in-the-rules-of/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“So you would think that at this moment, I would be in utter despair. Here's what's strange. The main thing I feel is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/so-you-would-think-that-at-this-moment-i-would-be-in-utter-despair/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Your desperate measures indicate desperate times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/your-desperate-measures-indicate-desperate-times/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“before he went back to helping the boy. Missing from the Warrior tent were Kalona and Aurox. For obvious reasons, Thanatos had decided the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-c-cast/before-he-went-back-to-helping-the-boy-missing-from-the-warrior-tent/) [P.C. Cast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-c-cast/) > [Grace, desperate times call for desperate measures. It's time to get your head out of the dumps and your legs in the air!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/grace-desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures-it-s-time-to-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I could have lied. I could have fought. But desperate times call for desperate measures, so I took a chance and called upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/i-could-have-lied-i-could-have-fought-but-desperate-times-call-for/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) [Browse all 28 Desperate times quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperate-times/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“New rules—we needed new rules. No one opens the main doors but me. No one leaves the property without me. No one goes outside without letting me know. 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