Augustine of Hippo

One says: "The devil made me do it"; another says: "Fortune made me do it"; another: "I was compelled by fate," no one to himself. When you wish to be your own excuser, your accuser triumphs over you. Do you wish to do what will cause your accuser, that is, the devil, to grieve and lament? Do what you heard, do what you learned, and say to your God: I said, O Lord, have mercy on me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. I, he says, I have said, not the devil, not fortune, not fate. I said: I do not excuse myself, but I accuse myself. I said, have mercy on me, heal my soul. Why is it sick? Because I have sinned against you.