# Quote — J. M. Coetzee, Disgrace

> Isaacs has a cheap Bic pen in his hand. He runs his fingers down the shaft, inverts it, runs his fingers down the shaft, over and over, in a motion that is mechanical rather than impatient.

- Author: [J. M. Coetzee](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee.md)
- Book: [Disgrace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/disgrace.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/J._M._Coetzee#Disgrace_(1999)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/disgrace/isaacs-has-a-cheap

## More from this book

> Because he takes pleasure in her, because his pleasure is unfailing, an affection has grown up in him for her. To some degree, he believes, this affection is reciprocated. Affection may not be love, but it is at least its cousin.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/disgrace/because-he-takes.md)

> Talking to Petrus is like punching a bag of sand.
>
> 'Are you giving him up?'
>
> 'Yes, I am giving him up.'

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/disgrace/talking-to-petrus.md)

> "Why? Because a woman's beauty does not belong to her alone. It is part of the bounty she brings into the world. She has a duty to share it."

p. 16 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/j-m-coetzee/disgrace/why-because-a-womans.md)