--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an…" description: "\"“Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an anguished O. He had to admit, there was real pleasure in seeing her pay the price for her bitching and whinin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/val-mcdermid-13650_pay-the-price_her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an_417947.jpg" --- # Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an anguished O. He… ![“Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an anguished O. He had to admit, there was real pleasure in seeing her pay the price for her bitching and whining and moaning. She’d called men like him misogynists. That was the opposite of what they were. Men like him, they loved women. They understood the…” quote by Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/val-mcdermid-13650_pay-the-price_her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an_417947.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/val-mcdermid-13650_pay-the-price_her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an_417947.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/val-mcdermid-13650_pay-the-price_her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an_417947.jpg) > ““Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an anguished O. He had to admit, there was real pleasure in seeing her pay the price for her bitching and whining and moaning. She’d called men like him misogynists. That was the opposite of what they were. Men like him, they loved women. They understood the kind of life that suited women best. They knew what women really wanted. Proper women didn’t want to be out there in the world, having to shout the odds all the time. They wanted to build homes, take care of families, make their mark and exercise their power inside the home. Being women, not fake men. After”” [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator describes a man who enjoys seeing a woman suffer for her complaints, believing women belong in domestic roles and not in public life. **In simple terms:** A man takes pleasure in a woman's pain, insisting she should stay at home. Key Takeaway Challenge gender stereotypes and recognize harmful power dynamics. Themes gender roles misogyny power domesticity psychology Mood angry critical empathetic Type social commentary cautionary When to use this quote - addressing workplace harassment - educating on gender equality - supporting victims of abuse - promoting inclusive policies Key Concepts feminist critique toxic masculinity social control Questions to Reflect On - What underlying fears drive this desire to control women? - How can societies dismantle such harmful stereotypes? A Different Perspective The viewpoint is a biased, misogynistic narrative that justifies oppression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pay the price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-the-price/) ## Related quotes > [“I wondered if other single women understood the delight that came from fifth-wheeling it. To not have to make small talk with some guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wondered-if-other-single-women-understood-the-delight-that-came/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Woolsey quirked an eyebrow. “You are a funny thing,” he said. “I would say I could see what those boys see in you, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/woolsey-quirked-an-eyebrow-you-are-a-funny-thing-he-said-i-would-say/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Oyster Tom said that they were not talking about people but about men. He agreed that most men remain accountable to themselves only, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-weller/oyster-tom-said-that-they-were-not-talking-about-people-but-about-men/) [Lance Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-weller/) > [We are fighting misogynists in every culture. My solution is to listen to the women in each community and amplify their voices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/we-are-fighting-misogynists-in-every-culture-my-solution-is-to-listen/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [“Misogynists have often reproached intellectual women for 'letting themselves go'; but they also preach to them: if you want to be our equals, stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/misogynists-have-often-reproached-intellectual-women-for-letting/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [I'm out about my misogyny. Most men are misogynists, and most women are feminists. I work with a lot of women. They have their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-garrett/i-m-out-about-my-misogyny-most-men-are-misogynists-and-most-women-are/) [Brad Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-garrett/) > [“The researchers speculated that men in traditional marriages are not overtly hostile toward women but instead are “benevolent sexists”—holding positive yet outdated views about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/the-researchers-speculated-that-men-in-traditional-marriages-are-not/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“At my glummest, I sometimes think women get to choose—between being punished for being unsubjugated and the continual punishment of subjugation. If ideas don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/at-my-glummest-i-sometimes-think-women-get-to-choose-between-being/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [The champions of militant Islam are, of course, misogynists, woman-haters; they are also misologists - haters of reason. Their armed doctrine is little more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/the-champions-of-militant-islam-are-of-course-misogynists-woman/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [In America, we have a government that is now run by white nationalists, by billionaires, by incredible misogynists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/in-america-we-have-a-government-that-is-now-run-by-white-nationalists/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“Some misogynists do not resort to the obvious cruelty of scare tactics and screamed insults to gain control of their partners. Instead of raising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/some-misogynists-do-not-resort-to-the-obvious-cruelty-of-scare/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Many misogynists use this method of turning the tables to deflect blame from themselves. They may say: "You are too sensitive"; "You're overreacting"; "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/many-misogynists-use-this-method-of-turning-the-tables-to-deflect/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [I defend a woman's right to cover her hair if she chooses, but the face is central to human interaction, and so the ideologues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/i-defend-a-woman-s-right-to-cover-her-hair-if-she-chooses-but-the/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [“The smell of a woman is her most important quality. I’d loved women who were old and who were young; those with extra kilos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/the-smell-of-a-woman-is-her-most-important-quality-i-d-loved-women/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [“First I loved women, then animals, and now I love stones. They're just as amusing as women and animals and they're much less trecherous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/first-i-loved-women-then-animals-and-now-i-love-stones-they-re-just/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More by Val McDermid > [“I told her you were probably here'. 'Thanks,' Tony said. 'Did I mention she thinks her brother's murder is my fault?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/i-told-her-you-were-probably-here-thanks-tony-said-did-i-mention-she/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Around five-eight, slim, good shoulders, narrow hips, legs and trunk in proportion, short dark hair, side parting, dark eyes, probably blue, shadows under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/around-five-eight-slim-good-shoulders-narrow-hips-legs-and-trunk-in/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“I failed her. And she's out of my life. I don't even know where she's living. What she's doing to get through the days.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/i-failed-her-and-she-s-out-of-my-life-i-don-t-even-know-where-she-s/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Discovering dedicated mystery booksellers was a bit like going to heaven without having to die first”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/discovering-dedicated-mystery-booksellers-was-a-bit-like-going-to/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Everybody's got the right to go to hell in the handcart of their choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/everybody-s-got-the-right-to-go-to-hell-in-the-handcart-of-their/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“It wasn't enough but it was a start. It might keep him going...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/it-wasn-t-enough-but-it-was-a-start-it-might-keep-him-going/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Look at you. Finally, you look upset. Is that what's bothering you now?' She stepped close to him and pushed him hard in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/look-at-you-finally-you-look-upset-is-that-what-s-bothering-you-now/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [That was the trouble with moving houses; no matter how carefully you packed the books, they never ended up on the new shelves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/that-was-the-trouble-with-moving-houses-no-matter-how-carefully-you/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Why are you only coming home just after three? Do you want a drink? I'm wide awake now.' He could be so like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/why-are-you-only-coming-home-just-after-three-do-you-want-a-drink-i-m/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“junction at the top of the stairs. She gave a curious glance down General Tilney’s corridor, but she”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/junction-at-the-top-of-the-stairs-she-gave-a-curious-glance-down/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [Steve Mosby has become one of a handful of writers who make me excited about crime fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/steve-mosby-has-become-one-of-a-handful-of-writers-who-make-me/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [It's not magic that takes us to another world - it's storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/it-s-not-magic-that-takes-us-to-another-world-it-s-storytelling/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“I was just finishing up my drink then I was off to get the night bus.' Carol grinned. 'Your sophistication never ceases to amaze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/i-was-just-finishing-up-my-drink-then-i-was-off-to-get-the-night-bus/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“Attractive smile, Carol added to her list of particulars as she shook the hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/attractive-smile-carol-added-to-her-list-of-particulars-as-she-shook/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) > [“It's only hunting you that keeps me from being you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/it-s-only-hunting-you-that-keeps-me-from-being-you/) [Val McDermid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) [Explore all 49 Val McDermid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/) ## More Pay the price quotes > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [You cannot buy happiness but you have to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-dangoor/you-cannot-buy-happiness-but-you-have-to-pay-the-price/) [Robert D Dangoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-dangoor/) > [One cannot pay the price of self-respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/one-cannot-pay-the-price-of-self-respect/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [The road that leads to heaven is risky, lonely, and costly in this world, and few are willing to pay the price. Following Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-road-that-leads-to-heaven-is-risky-lonely-and-costly-in-this/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [There's a lot of money to be made by strip-mining and drilling the dirtiest oil on the planet. But why should the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/there-s-a-lot-of-money-to-be-made-by-strip-mining-and-drilling-the/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [“One of the critical factors that make people’s dreams become nightmares is that they don’t know there is a cost to be paid!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/one-of-the-critical-factors-that-make-people-s-dreams-become/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Every worthwhile accomplishment has a price tag attached to it. The question is always whether you are willing to pay the price to attain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/every-worthwhile-accomplishment-has-a-price-tag-attached-to-it-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“success is simple. First, you decide what you want specifically; and second, you decide you’re willing to pay the price to make it happen—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-robbins/success-is-simple-first-you-decide-what-you-want-specifically-and/) [Anthony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-robbins/) > [To be patriotic is to be able to question government policy in times of crisis. To be patriotic is to stand up for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-al-arian/to-be-patriotic-is-to-be-able-to-question-government-policy-in-times/) [Sami Al-Arian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-al-arian/) > [It costs so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the Love and the courage to pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-west/it-costs-so-much-to-be-a-full-human-being-that-there-are-very-few-who/) [Morris West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-west/) > [Boxing is all about timing. And if you take long periods of inactivity, you will be made to pay the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/boxing-is-all-about-timing-and-if-you-take-long-periods-of-inactivity/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [Do lifelong artists pay a price for having chosen to make art? Of course. Everyone pays the price for his or her choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-warner/do-lifelong-artists-pay-a-price-for-having-chosen-to-make-art-of/) Sally Warner > [No matter how much you change, you still got to pay the price for the things you’ve done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/no-matter-how-much-you-change-you-still-got-to-pay-the-price-for-the/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [“Don´t pay the price for your past, let your awesome future do this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/don-t-pay-the-price-for-your-past-let-your-awesome-future-do-this/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) [Browse all 352 Pay the price quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-the-price/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an anguished O. He had to admit, there was real pleasure in seeing her pay the price for her bitching and whining and moaning. She’d called men like him misogynists. That was the opposite of what they were. Men like him, they loved women. They understood the kind of life that suited women best. They knew what women really wanted. Proper women didn’t want to be out there in the world, having to shout the odds all the time. They wanted to build homes, take care of families, make their mark and exercise their power inside the home. Being women, not fake men. After”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Val McDermid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an-anguished-o-he-had-to-admit/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pay the price" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an-anguished-o-he-had-to-admit/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/val-mcdermid-13650_pay-the-price_her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an_417947.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/val-mcdermid-13650_pay-the-price_her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an_417947.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/val-mcdermid-13650_pay-the-price_her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an_417947.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Her eyes widened and her mouth formed an anguished O. He had to admit, there was real pleasure in seeing her…” — Val McDermid", "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": "Val McDermid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-mcdermid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Her eyes widened and her mouth...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an-anguished-o-he-had-to-admit/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-mcdermid/her-eyes-widened-and-her-mouth-formed-an-anguished-o-he-had-to-admit/#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 } } ] } ```