Many intelligent people use the saying "I do not suffer fools lightly" 
where does it originate?

The actual term is 

Suffer fools gladly

It means as much as to show patience towards the foolish (i.e. the
incompetent, self-important, etc.)

This phrase is usually found in the negative, as an attribute of
intolerant people. It is from

St Paul: 'For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise' 
(II Corinthians, 11: 19).

Here's an amusing article about the saying:

http://www.robertfulford.com/SufferFools.html

thanks PINKFREUD-GA for info and amusing article link