The Anatomy of Melancholy

Their spiritual fathers can apply remedies so readily, so skilfully tighten and loosen the strings of their devotions, wind and unwind them, play upon their consciences with persuasive speeches and terrifying threats, settle and unsettle them to their own best advantage, raise and cast them down so easily, let them in and out, that I cannot see how anyone among them should suffer greatly or often from this disease, or finally come to ruin. The causes named above must therefore take hold more frequently in others.