Around about 1850, John Stuart Mill, regarded by many to be the smartest person ever, who spoke English as a "native tongue," told friends: “Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives...
Amplifying the nostrum, Mill continued: "Suppose any party, in addition to whatever share it may possess of the ability of the community, has nearly the whole of its stupidity, that party must, by the law of its constitution, be the stupidest party; and I do not see why honorable gentlemen should see that position as at all offensive to them, for it ensures their being always an extremely powerful party . . .
"There is so much dense, solid force in sheer stupidity, that any body of able men with that force pressing behind them may ensure victory in many a struggle, and many a victory the Conservative party has gained through that power."
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