--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Solitary confinement is too terrible a…" description: "\"Solitary confinement is too terrible a punishment to inflict on any human being, no matter what his crime. Hardened criminals in the men's prisons, it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/emmeline-pankhurst-11541_any_solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-p_2245221.jpg" --- # Solitary confinement is too terrible a punishment to… ![“Solitary confinement is too terrible a punishment to inflict on any human being, no matter what his crime. Hardened criminals in the men's prisons, it is said, often beg for the lash instead.” quote by Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/emmeline-pankhurst-11541_any_solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-p_2245221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/emmeline-pankhurst-11541_any_solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-p_2245221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/emmeline-pankhurst-11541_any_solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-p_2245221.jpg) > “Solitary confinement is too terrible a punishment to inflict on any human being, no matter what his crime. Hardened criminals in the men's prisons, it is said, often beg for the lash instead.” [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Solitary confinement is an inhumane punishment that degrades human dignity regardless of crime. **In simple terms:** Isolation punishment cruel, no matter the offense. Key Takeaway Advocate humane treatment for all prisoners. Themes human rights justice penal reform Mood ouful determined Type advocacy ethical When to use this quote - prison policy debates - human rights advocacy - legal reform discussions Key Concepts dignity psychological harm rehabilitation Questions to Reflect On - How does isolation affect mental health? - What alternatives exist to protect society while respecting dignity? A Different Perspective May be viewed as ignoring victims' desire for retribution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Confinement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confinement/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-being/) [Inflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflict/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisons/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) [Solitary confinement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary-confinement/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[Solitary confinement\] is terrible. That is terrible. You're in a grave. You can't do anything. Everything's brought to you and you're in a room… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-sweeney/solitary-confinement-is-terrible-that-is-terrible-you-re-in-a-grave/) Megan Sweeney > [It was a big surprise learning how many women work in men's prisons. There are people with mental health problems, people who have made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-o-donnell/it-was-a-big-surprise-learning-how-many-women-work-in-men-s-prisons/) [Jamie-Lee O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-o-donnell/) > [“Although a million black men can be found in prisons and jails, public acknowledgment of the role of the criminal justice system in "disappearing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/although-a-million-black-men-can-be-found-in-prisons-and-jails-public/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [“On the other hand, those ministers who are found to have been unfaithful shall have a most terrible punishment. See Ezek. xxxiii. 6; Matt.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/on-the-other-hand-those-ministers-who-are-found-to-have-been/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [For a contributing citizen to be released from the community was a final decision, a terrible punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/for-a-contributing-citizen-to-be-released-from-the-community-was-a/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [Well I certainly have learned and I hope I'm moving on and certainly two years of prison was a terrible punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/well-i-certainly-have-learned-and-i-hope-i-m-moving-on-and-certainly/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [If one wanted to crush and destroy a man entirely, to mete out to him the most terrible punishment, all one would have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/if-one-wanted-to-crush-and-destroy-a-man-entirely-to-mete-out-to-him/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“It is the mark of a supreme soul not know how to inflict pain on others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/it-is-the-mark-of-a-supreme-soul-not-know-how-to-inflict-pain-on/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Inflict not on an enemy every injury in your power, for he may afterwards become your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/inflict-not-on-an-enemy-every-injury-in-your-power-for-he-may/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [“It is not those who can inflict the most, but those that can suffer the most who will prevail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-james-macswiney/it-is-not-those-who-can-inflict-the-most-but-those-that-can-suffer/) Terence James MacSwiney > [“I ask you, why did the gods inflict me with brothers?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/i-ask-you-why-did-the-gods-inflict-me-with-brothers/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [There is no pain equal to that which two lovers can inflict on one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/there-is-no-pain-equal-to-that-which-two-lovers-can-inflict-on-one/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [I don’t work. I merely inflict myself on the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morley/i-don-t-work-i-merely-inflict-myself-on-the-public/) [Robert Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morley/) > [I try to inflict as much damage as possible, at all costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-condit/i-try-to-inflict-as-much-damage-as-possible-at-all-costs/) [Carlos Condit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-condit/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) ## More by Emmeline Pankhurst > [...the Government must not think that they can stop this agitation. It will go on...We are here not because we are law-breakers; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/the-government-must-not-think-that-they-can-stop-this-agitation-it/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [If it is right for men to fight for their freedom, and God knows what the human race would be like today if men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/if-it-is-right-for-men-to-fight-for-their-freedom-and-god-knows-what/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [Governments have always tried to crush reform movements, to destroy ideas, to kill the thing that cannot die. Without regard to history, which shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/governments-have-always-tried-to-crush-reform-movements-to-destroy/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [I have made speeches urging women to adopt methods of rebellion such as have been adopted by men in every revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/i-have-made-speeches-urging-women-to-adopt-methods-of-rebellion-such/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [What is the use of fighting for the vote if we do not have a country to vote in? With that patriotism that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/what-is-the-use-of-fighting-for-the-vote-if-we-do-not-have-a-country/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [I had to get a close-hand view of the misery and unhappiness of a man made world, before I reached the point where I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/i-had-to-get-a-close-hand-view-of-the-misery-and-unhappiness-of-a-man/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [Men make the moral code and they expect women to accept it. They have decided that it is entirely right and proper for men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/men-make-the-moral-code-and-they-expect-women-to-accept-it-they-have/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [The English prison system is altogether mediaeval and outworn. In some of its details, the system has improved since they began to send the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/the-english-prison-system-is-altogether-mediaeval-and-outworn-in-some/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [When you have warfare, things happen; people suffer; the noncombatants suffer as well as the combatants. And so it happens in civil war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/when-you-have-warfare-things-happen-people-suffer-the-noncombatants/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [I would rather be a rebel than a slave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/i-would-rather-be-a-rebel-than-a-slave/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [There is something that Governments care for far more than human life, and that is the security of property, and so it is through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/there-is-something-that-governments-care-for-far-more-than-human-life/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [You have to make more noise than anybody else, you have to make yourself more obtrusive than anybody else, you have to fill all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/you-have-to-make-more-noise-than-anybody-else-you-have-to-make/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [Those men and women are fortunate who are born at a time when a great struggle for human freedom is in progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/those-men-and-women-are-fortunate-who-are-born-at-a-time-when-a-great/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [Often I have heard the taunt that suffragists are women who have failed to find any normal outlet for their emotions, and are therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/often-i-have-heard-the-taunt-that-suffragists-are-women-who-have/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) > [Those men and women are fortunate who are born at a time when a great struggle for human freedom is in progress. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/those-men-and-women-are-fortunate-who-are-born-at-a-time-when-a-great-2/) [Emmeline Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) [Explore all 59 Emmeline Pankhurst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/) ## More Any quotes > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [We earned any fans with the way we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/we-earned-any-fans-with-the-way-we-play/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [The system in Germany is different, as you sign up with a company for two or three years, and you work exclusively with them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/the-system-in-germany-is-different-as-you-sign-up-with-a-company-for/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. So I go all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-never-want-to-look-back-on-any-moment-and-say-i-could-have-done/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/) [Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/) Browse all 6,938 Any quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Solitary confinement is too terrible a punishment to inflict on any human being, no matter what his crime. Hardened criminals in the men's prisons, it is said, often beg for the lash instead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emmeline Pankhurst" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-punishment-to-inflict-on-any/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Any" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-punishment-to-inflict-on-any/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/emmeline-pankhurst-11541_any_solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-p_2245221.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/emmeline-pankhurst-11541_any_solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-p_2245221.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/emmeline-pankhurst-11541_any_solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-p_2245221.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Solitary confinement is too terrible a punishment to inflict on any human being, no matter what his crime…” — Emmeline Pankhurst", "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": "Emmeline Pankhurst", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmeline-pankhurst/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Solitary confinement is too terrible a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-punishment-to-inflict-on-any/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmeline-pankhurst/solitary-confinement-is-too-terrible-a-punishment-to-inflict-on-any/#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 } } ] } ```