Many European governments say they have little choice but to ease pandemic restrictions, fearing that if they maintain stringent rules, their citizens will only ignore them.

The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.

Pale at the sight we fly; unswerving, these / glide on and seek Laocoon. First, entwined / in stringent folds, his two young sons they seize, / with cruel fangs their tortured limbs to grind.

India announced one of the most stringent travel restrictions to date by suspending visas for all foreigners for at least one month.