grandiloquence (Aristophanes)

To make your study grandiloquence
And busy quibbling devoid of sense
Argues an empty mind and sick,
In point of fact a lunatic.

- Frogs, Aristophanes

*grandiloquence = grandiosity: high-flown style; excessive use of verbal ornamentation; "the grandiosity of his prose"; "an excessive ornateness of language"
per http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=grandiloquence

reading in the Apocrypha

All wisdom is from the Lord, 
and with him it remains forever. 
The sand of the sea, the drops of rain, 
and the days of eternity—who can count them? 
The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, 
the abyss, and wisdom—who can search them out? 
Wisdom was created before all other things, 
and prudent understanding from eternity.
The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed? 
Her subtleties—who knows them?
There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared, 
seated upon his throne—the Lord. 
It is he who created her; 
he saw her and took her measure; 
he poured her out upon all his works, 
upon all the living according to his gift; 
he lavished her upon those who love him.
The fear of the Lord is glory and exultation, 
and gladness and a crown of rejoicing. 
The fear of the Lord delights the heart, 
and gives gladness and joy and long life.
- Sirach 1.1-12.  http://ref.ly/Sir1.1 

I am a Protestant, so while I do not consider this canonical, it is still valuable to read and reflect upon. 

the welfare state (Machiavelli)

a wise Prince should think of a method by which citizens, at all times and in every circumstance, will need the assistance of the state and of himself, and then they will always be loyal to him.

The Prince, Machiavelli. Chapter IX.

Amazing!  It sounds like our modern welfare state took a page right out of Old Nic!

Men despise religion (Pascal)

Men despise religion. They hate it and are afraid it may be true. The cure for this is first to show that religion is not contrary to reason, but worthy of reverence and respect. Next make it attractive, make good men wish it were true, and then show that it is.

- Blaise Pascal

See http://thegospelcoalition.org/mobile/article/tgc/pascals-method-for-presenting-the-christian-faith