Quotations and Literature Forum

John Stuart mill is quoted as saying "Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives." I have had troble finding out in what context was he saying this, because based on what I have read about him so far would have one think he is pretty conservative himself. Can anyone enlighten me, please? thanks

I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it.~John Stuart Mill, letter to the Conservative MP, Sir John Pakington (March, 1866)