He that becomes protector of sin shall surely become its prisoner.

Sin is looking for the right thing in the wrong place.

Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity.

I inquired what wickedness is, and I didn't find a substance, but a perversity of will twisted away from the highest substance – You oh God – towards inferior things, rejecting its own inner life and swelling with external matter.

There is no sin unless through a man's own will, and hence the reward when we do right things also of our own will."

(Against Fortunatus)

Our insight into the need of redemption will largely depend upon our knowledge of the terrible nature of the power that has entered our being.