--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lord Nicholas St. John was their only…" description: "\"Lord Nicholas St. John was their only hope, and she had been on the roof when he arrived, for heaven's sake. Ladies did not go traipsing about on rooft..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/sarah-maclean-1164_choices_lord-nicholas-st-john-was-their-only-hop_884521.png" --- # Lord Nicholas St. John was their only hope, and she had… ![“Lord Nicholas St. John was their only hope, and she had been on the roof when he arrived, for heaven's sake. Ladies did not go traipsing about on rooftops. And certainly gentlemen did not frequent the homes of those ladies who did traipse about on roortops. It did not matter if the rooftop in…” quote by Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/sarah-maclean-1164_choices_lord-nicholas-st-john-was-their-only-hop_884521.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/sarah-maclean-1164_choices_lord-nicholas-st-john-was-their-only-hop_884521.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0b/sarah-maclean-1164_choices_lord-nicholas-st-john-was-their-only-hop_884521.png) > “Lord Nicholas St. John was their only hope, and she had been on the roof when he arrived, for heaven's sake. Ladies did not go traipsing about on rooftops. And certainly gentlemen did not frequent the homes of those ladies who did traipse about on roortops. It did not matter if the rooftop in question was in dire need of repair. Or that the lady in question had no choice.” [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal expectations restrict women's autonomy, especially in unsafe spaces. **In simple terms:** Women face limits from social norms. Key Takeaway Challenge restrictive norms. Themes gender society freedom safety Mood empathetic critical Type literary social commentary When to use this quote - urban living - gender politics - public safety Key Concepts Patriarchy social contract personal agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect autonomy in constrained environments? - What responsibilities do societies have to safe spaces? A Different Perspective Not all rooftops are dangerous; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Rooftop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooftop/) ## Related quotes > [Straight to the top, rooftop glows. With a hand full of girls and they all so foreign. Brain so poisoned, rainbows flowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/straight-to-the-top-rooftop-glows-with-a-hand-full-of-girls-and-they/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [Coming upon a space that sounds unique and incredible is just the best feeling. Sometimes, it's under a bridge or down a stairwell or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madi-diaz/coming-upon-a-space-that-sounds-unique-and-incredible-is-just-the-2/) [Madi Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madi-diaz/) > [Some people do want to stand on the rooftop and scream out their story. Others are cowering in the corner, or sitting with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/some-people-do-want-to-stand-on-the-rooftop-and-scream-out-their/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [Typically we don't think of cities as being particularly extreme environments, but few places on earth get as hot as a rooftop or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rogers/typically-we-don-t-think-of-cities-as-being-particularly-extreme/) [Adam Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rogers/) > [Sometimes I just survive. But sometimes I stand on the rooftop of my existence, arms stretched out, begging for more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/sometimes-i-just-survive-but-sometimes-i-stand-on-the-rooftop-of-my/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [This is not what it is like to be you, I realized as a few of your magnificent clouds flew over the rooftop. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/this-is-not-what-it-is-like-to-be-you-i-realized-as-a-few-of-your/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [All of Japan once a year will get up on their rooftops, because that's the night that the shepherd boy from one side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/all-of-japan-once-a-year-will-get-up-on-their-rooftops-because-that-s/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [“Why does the rain make us feel so romantic and strange? Maybe it's the fact that we are unnatural spectators of it, from inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-gray/why-does-the-rain-make-us-feel-so-romantic-and-strange-maybe-it-s-the/) [Amelia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-gray/) > [“After joyfully working each morning, I would leave off around midday to challenge myself to a footrace. Speeding along the sunny paths of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/after-joyfully-working-each-morning-i-would-leave-off-around-midday/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [There's the sound of rain on the rooftop .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/there-s-the-sound-of-rain-on-the-rooftop/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [“Some rooftop, water-tank looming, street-racket strangely quelled and other known and unknown there, long sweet summer evening on the tarred roof: leaned back your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/some-rooftop-water-tank-looming-street-racket-strangely-quelled-and/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“He's moving with such purpose that William is scared he might just speed right off the rooftop, like the roadrunner from the cartoons. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/he-s-moving-with-such-purpose-that-william-is-scared-he-might-just/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) > [I used to not aloud in the building but now I'm on the rooftop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-used-to-not-aloud-in-the-building-but-now-i-m-on-the-rooftop/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [“See that house with the Ivy on it? From that rooftop, what if you leapt onto the next rooftop, dashed over that blue &…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayao-miyazaki/see-that-house-with-the-ivy-on-it-from-that-rooftop-what-if-you-leapt/) [Hayao Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayao-miyazaki/) > [“Suddenly, I found myself running along the rooftop, leaping and falling. Falling until I caught the zip-line handle and then I was zooming, flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-bode/suddenly-i-found-myself-running-along-the-rooftop-leaping-and-falling/) [Maya Bode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-bode/) ## More by Sarah MacLean > [“You think my feelings toward you apathetic? You think you bore me?” “Don’t I?” He shook his head slowly, continuing toward her, stalking her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/you-think-my-feelings-toward-you-apathetic-you-think-you-bore-me-don/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [I never met Colleen McCullough; if I had, I probably would have cried and made a fool of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/i-never-met-colleen-mccullough-if-i-had-i-probably-would-have-cried/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [He raked his fingers through his hair. "She doesn't need me." Ralston smirked. 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So perfect. “I am yours,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/what-do-i-win-she-whispered-in-his-ear-he-grinned-what-would-you-like/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [By the time I was 10 or 12, I had discovered the lure of the romance genre - and the dusty copy of 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/by-the-time-i-was-10-or-12-i-had-discovered-the-lure-of-the-romance/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [You plan to be a challenge, do you?" Juliana smiled angelically. "I agreed to remain, my lord. Not to remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/you-plan-to-be-a-challenge-do-you-juliana-smiled-angelically-i-agreed/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [“She leveled Penelope with a look. “Penelope, you must think, darling! When your father dies! What then?” Lord Needham looked up from his pheasant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/she-leveled-penelope-with-a-look-penelope-you-must-think-darling-when/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [And... as long as they need me, it's easier to forget that I am alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/and-as-long-as-they-need-me-it-s-easier-to-forget-that-i-am-alone/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [In books by women and for women, it should come as no surprise that heroines are the heroes of the action, finding themselves, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/in-books-by-women-and-for-women-it-should-come-as-no-surprise-that/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [“She did not know how long he stood caressing her before he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed his mouth to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/she-did-not-know-how-long-he-stood-caressing-her-before-he-lifted-her/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [As winter approaches - bringing cold weather and family drama - we crave page-turners, books made for long nights and tryptophan-induced sloth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/as-winter-approaches-bringing-cold-weather-and-family-drama-we-crave/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [No doubt, much of the joy of a great romance is the moment when these stoic heroes crack open and reveal themselves to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/no-doubt-much-of-the-joy-of-a-great-romance-is-the-moment-when-these/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) [Explore all 278 Sarah MacLean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) ## 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": "Lord Nicholas St. John was their only hope, and she had been on the roof when he arrived, for heaven's sake. 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