That this quote was important to the founding fathers and to thinking people in late generations is undeniable. At various times I have seen precisely these words and some similar variation attributed to Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, General Douglas MacArthur, HL Mencken, Albert Nock, and others whose names escape me at the moment. In these times we would be wise to remember it. But I still wonder who thought of it first ... My money is on Tom Paine