HaLeivi, please quote that Noam Elimelech, or at least post the location – I own one.
A Google search brings up a good number of variations on this quote. As I expected, none are attributed to anyone other than R’ Yisrael.
Lich’oira, influence moves a person’s nekudas habechirah. Thus, the effect of a certain influence might be that a person will not consider a particular choice, though he is still a free agent. Anyone?