Lucretius (99-55 B.C.E.) in 'On the Nature of Things' said the
following:
"All religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the
politician, and ridiculous to the philospher."
"Nor do we reject the gods as profane, but those who accept them."
"Fear was the first thing to make gods."
Plato:
"He was a wise man that first brought gods into the world."
Ovid:
"It is expedient that gods should exist; since it is expedient, let us
believe they do."
Seneca:
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as
false, and by the rulers as useful."
Protagoras:
"As to gods, I have no means of knowing either that they exist or do not
exit, or what they are like. Many things prevent our knowledge: the
subject is obscure, and brief is the span of mortal life."
Plutarch wrote:
"The superstituous man wishes he did not believe in gods, as the atheist
does not, but fears to disbelieve in them."
Sophocles wrote:
"The race of mortals has forged images of God of stone, wood, gold, and
ivory; we dedicate to them festival days, an we call that religion."
Varro wrote:
"It is for the good of states that men should be deluded by relgion."
Aristophanes (448-380 B.C.E.) wrote:
"Open you mouth and shut your eyes, and see what Zeus shall send you."
"Shrines! Shrines! Surely you don't believe in gods. What's your
argument? Where's your proof?"
"He was a wise man who originated the idea of God."
-Euripides-
"The myths about Hades and the gods, although they are pure
invention, help to make men virtous."
-Diodorus Siculus-
"Since the masses of the people are inconstant, full of unruly
desires, passionate and reckless of consequence, they must be filled
with fears to keep them in order. The ancients did well, therefore,
to invent gods, and the belief in punishment after death."
-Polybius (203-120 B.C.E.), Histories