If something is tempered and grows slowly ...over a long period of time, it often fits into the category of being done "religiously".  Then it can be sped up ...to have its effect before people can realize it.  It's like understanding that a frog is drawn to water.  If a frog is desperate enough, or just simply desires water ...it could find itself in a pot.  The problem is, that pot may have been just put on a burner ...on low.  The frog has no idea what is really happening.