---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If something happened to Gillian, I'd rip…"
description: "\"“If something happened to Gillian, I'd rip the world down to save her, even if she spat in my face when I did. That's what parenthood means.”\" — Seanan..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/seanan-mcguire-972_motherhood_if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip_2581709.jpg"
---

#  If something happened to Gillian, I'd rip the world down…

![“If something happened to Gillian, I'd rip the world down to save her, even if she spat in my face when I did. That's what parenthood means.” quote by Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/seanan-mcguire-972_motherhood_if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip_2581709.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/seanan-mcguire-972_motherhood_if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip_2581709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/seanan-mcguire-972_motherhood_if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip_2581709.jpg)

> ““If something happened to Gillian, I'd rip the world down to save her, even if she spat in my face when I did. That's what parenthood means.””

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A declaration of fierce protective love, even when the loved one is hostile

**In simple terms:** Extreme love leads to self‑sacrifice despite hostility

Key Takeaway

Protect those you love, even at personal cost

Themes

parenthood sacrifice loyalty

Mood

protective intense

Type

dramatic emotional

When to use this quote

- family crises
- parent‑child conflict
- emergency care

Key Concepts

altruism boundaries

Questions to Reflect On

- How far should love go?
- When does protection become enabling?

A Different Perspective

May encourage unhealthy self‑neglect

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motherhood/) [Parenthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenthood/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/)

## Related quotes

> [Parenthood means becoming comfortable with the fact that there are things outside your control, things that end and fail, just as most utopias end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/parenthood-means-becoming-comfortable-with-the-fact-that-there-are/)

[Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/)

> [I think we forget that part of parenthood means having to face and reject or face and embrace a kind of animal capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-kusama/i-think-we-forget-that-part-of-parenthood-means-having-to-face-and/)

[Karyn Kusama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-kusama/)

> [If I ever spat at an opponent, I'd never be able to show my face to my family ever again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjen-robben/if-i-ever-spat-at-an-opponent-i-d-never-be-able-to-show-my-face-to-my/)

[Arjen Robben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjen-robben/)

> [What's Wrong With You? You Spat In Disgust Quite Frankly I'd Like To Know Too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-s-wrong-with-you-you-spat-in-disgust-quite-frankly-i-d-like-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The times spat at me. I spit back at the times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-voznesensky/the-times-spat-at-me-i-spit-back-at-the-times/)

[Andrei Voznesensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-voznesensky/)

> [If we're ever seen having a public spat in a coffee shop, I think the concept of romance will die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mullally/if-we-re-ever-seen-having-a-public-spat-in-a-coffee-shop-i-think-the/)

[Megan Mullally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mullally/)

> [“I learned long ago that you don't get in the middle of a lover's spat. Nothing EVER goes as planned - People fall in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-learned-long-ago-that-you-don-t-get-in-the-middle-of-a-lover-s-spat/)

[Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/)

> [“The cow spat. “What are you going to do? Not eat me?” “That’s right. I won’t eat you and I won’t eat your entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-cow-spat-what-are-you-going-to-do-not-eat-me-that-s-right-i-won-t/)

[Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/)

> [“No. No, you're not like him," she spat. "You're your very own brand of fucked up, Lucien.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-french/no-no-you-re-not-like-him-she-spat-you-re-your-very-own-brand-of/)

[Kitty French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-french/)

> [“You’re about to get a feisty little foot up your ass,” I spat back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/you-re-about-to-get-a-feisty-little-foot-up-your-ass-i-spat-back/)

[Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/)

> [Get off me,” Harry spat, throwing Pettigrew’s hands off him in disgust. “I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it because — I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/get-off-me-harry-spat-throwing-pettigrew-s-hands-off-him-in-disgust-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think that the best thing we can do for our children is to allow them to do things for themselves, allow them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-think-that-the-best-thing-we-can-do-for-our-children-is-to-allow/)

[C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/)

> [“While parenthood served as no disadvantage at all to men, there was evidence of a substantial "motherhood penalty". Mothers received only half as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordelia-fine/while-parenthood-served-as-no-disadvantage-at-all-to-men-there-was/)

[Cordelia Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordelia-fine/)

> [In the heart of a mother you will find no space for hatred or anger when it comes to her child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-r-aquino/in-the-heart-of-a-mother-you-will-find-no-space-for-hatred-or-anger/)

[Leonora R Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-r-aquino/)

> [The less obvious hurdle is that of preparing parents emotionally and putting forward realistic images of parenthood and motherhood. There also needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-less-obvious-hurdle-is-that-of-preparing-parents-emotionally-and/)

[Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/)

## More by Seanan McGuire

> [“First, check your ammunition. Then, check your escape routes. Finally, check your hair. —Frances Brown”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/first-check-your-ammunition-then-check-your-escape-routes-finally/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“The Moors were beautiful in their own way, and if their beauty was the quiet sort that required time and introspection to be seen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/the-moors-were-beautiful-in-their-own-way-and-if-their-beauty-was-the/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“Technically this is assault and Henry would tell me to verbally request that you not file a sexual harassment claim against me,” she said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/technically-this-is-assault-and-henry-would-tell-me-to-verbally/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“Cats never listen. They’re dependable that way; when Rome burned, the emperor’s cats still expected to be fed on time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/cats-never-listen-they-re-dependable-that-way-when-rome-burned-the/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“You got out of bed. The universe does seem to take that as a personal affront.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/you-got-out-of-bed-the-universe-does-seem-to-take-that-as-a-personal/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“Jeff sighed. “Henry. You know as well as I do that any one of us could do a great deal of damage if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/jeff-sighed-henry-you-know-as-well-as-i-do-that-any-one-of-us-could/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“Love doesn't care what you want. Love doesn't care if it's convenient. Love pursues its own agenda, and there's no bullet in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/love-doesn-t-care-what-you-want-love-doesn-t-care-if-it-s-convenient/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“We can’t save them if they don’t want to be saved. It doesn’t work that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/we-can-t-save-them-if-they-don-t-want-to-be-saved-it-doesn-t-work/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“Damn." "I know." "I mean seriously...damn." "Yeah." "When you decide it's time to up the ante on getting into deep shit, you don't mess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/damn-i-know-i-mean-seriously-damn-yeah-when-you-decide-it-s-time-to/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [It's very important to me that people get to see themselves in stories. When someone tells me they've never seen themselves, I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-get-to-see-themselves-in/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“I didn't look back. Sometimes, not looking back is the only mercy the world has left to show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/i-didn-t-look-back-sometimes-not-looking-back-is-the-only-mercy-the/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“I’ve had rest enough to last a lifetime, and only a lifetime for the rest of what’s to be done,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/i-ve-had-rest-enough-to-last-a-lifetime-and-only-a-lifetime-for-the/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“The history of the human race has been one long quest to find new, novel things, and then kill, eat, or enslave them. There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/the-history-of-the-human-race-has-been-one-long-quest-to-find-new/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [I made the choice not to have children, so I can spend my days just writing; there are no kids demanding my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/i-made-the-choice-not-to-have-children-so-i-can-spend-my-days-just/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

> [“Fran blinked. Fran removed a biscuit from her bag, taking a thoughtful bite and chewing slowly before she swallowed. And finally, Fran asked the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/fran-blinked-fran-removed-a-biscuit-from-her-bag-taking-a-thoughtful/)

[Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

[Explore all 317 Seanan McGuire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/)

## More Motherhood quotes

> [In many ways, being pregnant and working were more difficult than motherhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethenny-frankel/in-many-ways-being-pregnant-and-working-were-more-difficult-than/)

[Bethenny Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethenny-frankel/)

> [I do think that despite my best efforts to resist it, I am now a grown-up. It's due to lots of very difficult decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-thompson/i-do-think-that-despite-my-best-efforts-to-resist-it-i-am-now-a-grown/)

[Emma Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-thompson/)

> [The less obvious hurdle is that of preparing parents emotionally and putting forward realistic images of parenthood and motherhood. There also needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-less-obvious-hurdle-is-that-of-preparing-parents-emotionally-and/)

[Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/)

> [Sterility: killer of motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/sterility-killer-of-motherhood/)

Mak\_786

> [“Time plays tricks on mothers. It teases you with breaks and brief caesuras, only to skip wildly forward, bringing breathtaking changes to your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/time-plays-tricks-on-mothers-it-teases-you-with-breaks-and-brief/)

[Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/)

> [The emotions, responsibilities - and the pain - of motherhood are unique to each of us with children. Ask any woman, and she will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-barton/the-emotions-responsibilities-and-the-pain-of-motherhood-are-unique/)

[Fiona Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-barton/)

> [ Ladies, \[motherhood\] is a full-time job. Do not kid yourself that you can be a dental receptionist and a mother; that you can be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/ladies-motherhood-is-a-full-time-job-do-not-kid-yourself-that-you-can/)

[Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/)

> [Motherhood hasn't changed me much but the only difference I feel is that I have become more patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kashmira-shah/motherhood-hasn-t-changed-me-much-but-the-only-difference-i-feel-is/)

[Kashmira Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kashmira-shah/)

> [“Now that Olive was grown, I didn't know what to do with myself. You could build your life around one single thing, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lee-west/now-that-olive-was-grown-i-didn-t-know-what-to-do-with-myself-you/)

[Michael Lee West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lee-west/)

> [“Thanks for nothing, regular human mom. Footnote: nothing except for the unconditional love and support and meticulous care to make sure I faced the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-west/thanks-for-nothing-regular-human-mom-footnote-nothing-except-for-the/)

[Lindy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-west/)

> [None of my own experiences ever finds its way into my work. However, the stages of my life - motherhood, middle age, etc. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/none-of-my-own-experiences-ever-finds-its-way-into-my-work-however/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [“The Vatican won't prosecute pedophile priests but I decide I'm not ready for motherhood and it's condemnation for me? These are the same people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-renee-taylor/the-vatican-won-t-prosecute-pedophile-priests-but-i-decide-i-m-not/)

Sonya Renee Taylor

> [The strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/the-strength-of-motherhood-is-greater-than-natural-laws/)

[Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/)

> [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/)

[Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/)

> [The common growth of Mother Earth Suffices me,-her tears, her mirth, Her humblest mirth and tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-common-growth-of-mother-earth-suffices-me-her-tears-her-mirth-her/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

[Browse all 1,555 Motherhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motherhood/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If something happened to Gillian, I'd rip the world down to save her, even if she spat in my face when I did. That's what parenthood means.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Seanan McGuire"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip-the-world-down-to-save-her/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Motherhood"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip-the-world-down-to-save-her/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/seanan-mcguire-972_motherhood_if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip_2581709.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/seanan-mcguire-972_motherhood_if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip_2581709.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/seanan-mcguire-972_motherhood_if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip_2581709.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If something happened to Gillian, I'd rip the world down to save her, even if she spat in my face when I…” — Seanan McGuire",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Seanan McGuire",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If something happened to Gillian, I'd...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip-the-world-down-to-save-her/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/if-something-happened-to-gillian-i-d-rip-the-world-down-to-save-her/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
