Henricus Institoris and Jacobus Sprenger: Malleus maleficarum

Essential Quotes

“As St. Gregory says, the Devil tempts repeatedly in order that the feeling of exhaustion at least should make him victorious. You should understand that this temptation does not surpass the strength of the one tempted.”

“Thus, the demons use the sorceresses to afflict the neighbors of the sorceresses and the innocent with losses in temporal matters that are so great that as if under compulsion the neighbors must first beg for the help of the sorceresses and finally submit to their advice.”

“Here it should be noted that since the Devil’s intent and appetite are greater in tempting the good than the evil . . . he makes greater efforts to lead astray all the holiest virgins and girls.”

“It should first be noticed that while the sorceresses appear in three kinds (those who harm but are unable to heal, those who cure and do not harm…and those who harm and heal)…among those who harm one kind is supreme, and those who belong to this kind are able to commit all the acts of sorcery, while the others practice only some each.”

“For just as through signs the physician sees in a sick person certain things that the simple person does not notice, the demon sees things that no human sees naturally.”