Max Weber

The modern view of criminal justice, broadly, is that public concern with morality or expediency decrees expiation for the violation of a norm; this concern finds expression in the infliction of punishment on the evil doer by agents of the state, the evil doer, however, enjoying the protection of a regular procedure.

German Economist

William J. Brennan, Jr.

The principle inherent in the clause that prohibits pointless infliction of excessive punishment when less severe punishment can adequately achieve the same purposes invalidates the punishment.

American Judge

John Yoo

Congress's definition of torture in those laws - the infliction of severe mental or physical pain - leaves room for interrogation methods that go beyond polite conversation.

American Educator

Bertrand Russell

The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell.

British Philosopher

Infliction often suggests an intentional or cruel act, used in serious or formal situations.

Negative Connotation

The term is often used in legal settings to describe the imposition of punishment.

Legal Context

Infliction can describe actions leading to emotional, not just physical, pain.

Emotional Suffering

In less serious contexts, infliction can refer to minor annoyances.

Less Intense

What is considered an infliction may vary from person to person.

Subjective Perception

Can be used in exaggeration to emphasize personal inconvenience.

Hyperbolic Usage

 the light is so blindingly bright right now at this time of the afternoon it's almost hard to tell just really I mean the shape of that phorid looks like a cow no it is it's a cow she's just had him she's just urinated and maybe she has a bit of an infliction as well there's a car interesting she was saying