A few others have summarized via quote, but I think this one is the most effective:
"For it is the intention to degrade another person’s decision-making situation that is both the essence and the essential immorality of manipulation."
A cult leader may not be thinking that they're getting you to make a mistake, because they're only thinking of themselves. But they are trying to degrade your decision-making.
Conversely, persuasion could be considered an attempt to empower your decision making: with new information, new perspectives, lights in blindspots, education on fallacies, etc.
"For it is the intention to degrade another person’s decision-making situation that is both the essence and the essential immorality of manipulation."
A cult leader may not be thinking that they're getting you to make a mistake, because they're only thinking of themselves. But they are trying to degrade your decision-making.
Conversely, persuasion could be considered an attempt to empower your decision making: with new information, new perspectives, lights in blindspots, education on fallacies, etc.
Doesn't feel quite right, but closer.