I've run across this quote, attributed to James Madison, on some religious sites:

“We have staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

A Google search does not reveal the source of this supposed quote, which would be surprising coming from a Deist like Madison. Does anyone know if it's a legitimate quote or not?

thank goodness for snopes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/capital.asp

I know this was said/written by James Madison:

The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.

more quotes by him at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_madison_3.html

@mmmcheezy: GMTA!