Both Uses of
infallible
in
The Magic Mountain
- Every patient had to reckon with it as the infallible indication of his chances of being cured; the number of months or years someone would have to stay here could easily be determined from it—beginning with just dropping by for six months all the way up to a "life sentence," which all too often meant very little in terms of actual time spent.†
Chpt 6.1 *
- He provided anecdotes about his sergeant, a surly, fanatical soldier, who was caught in the awkward position of dealing with a younger, fallible subordinate, who nevertheless already visited the officer's casino and was destined to be his superior one day.†
Chpt 6.8fallible = not perfect (likely at some point to make a mistake or to be wrong)
Definition:
never wrong; or never failing