It may have been used by a US president (sounds like a Jefferson-ism) but sorry to say it's not a US invention. The principle is rooted in Anglo Saxon Europe.
PS - It was used a line in an episode of V for Vendetta.:tongue:
Ok Mr.Dong..but how much Anglo Saxon Europeans used stuff from Greek thoughts too?
It seems we borrow stuff from one another and some say the same stuff say more beautifully than others to particular ears...but even myself having no idea who said first for sure many had the idea for ages because it just make sense. People in the past hanged their abusive monarcs, at least in France the things were not preatty...I kind of remember bits of Victor Hugo Os Miseraveis...but English history is very foggy to me.
Ps: ? Vendetta episode ? Don't know..but I will try to find the frase Jefferson-ism