Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as

[Zoigal]

false, and by the rulers as useful according to EdwardGibbons, author of the "The Decline and Fall of the
Roman Empire".....z But there must be a lot of exceptions particularly among us common folk. z

[enlightenment]

1. Gibbons said a lot of things that weren't

terribly accurate . . . :)

[onager]

2. I've also seen that quote attributed to Seneca...

...and a few other people.

Whoever said it, it's as true today as it ever was.

Also among the ancient Romans, Suetonius had a zinger or two: "If you did not know by the age of 5 that the gods are only made-up things and their miracles only stories, then you are a fool."

[Warpy]

3. Nobody said common folks all lack wisdom

except the rulers who universally lack it.

However, the quote is apocryphal, attributed to more than one male.

The cynic in me says that means a woman first said it and they all stole it.