accustomed to the evils so long...

"What appears to be practised by many soon obtains the force of a custom. And human affairs have scarcely ever been in so good a state as for the majority to be pleased with things of real excellence. From the private vices of multitudes, therefore, has arisen public error, or rather a common agreement of vices...It is evident to all who can see, that the world is inundated with more than an ocean of evils... And the remedy is rejected for no other reason, but because we have been accustomed to the evils so long.

a corrupt custom is nothing but an epidemical pestilence."

- John Calvin, dedicatory intro to Institutes of the Christian Religion