This is such a true quote. Very similar to John Adams' quote on the Constitution being "wholly inadequate" for the government of an immoral and non-religious people.

This is by far my favorite quote from John Adams. It is so true. Our Constitution assumes a moral citizenry. The freedoms we claim and protect, if afforded to a largely immoral population, will result in societal self-destruction. It would be the equivalent of handing out driver's licenses to 5 year olds. To those giving this quote a thumbs down, try replacing "moral and religious" with "immoral and non-religious", or "moral and non-religious". Do either of those revised quotes resonate as true? Without religion--and by that I mean a basic belief in a Creator--we have no claim to the rights we protect. Our entire system of government is based on the notion that we are "Endowed by a Creator" with inalienable rights. If this goes, so do our rights, for we have no source from which to claim them.