John Stuart Mill in: Andrew Bailey, et al., The Broadview Anthology of Social and Political Thought: Volume 2: The Twentieth Century and Beyond, Broadview Press, 12 September 2008, p. 970
“
Stupidity is much the same all the world over. A stupid person's notions and feelings may confidently be inferred from those which prevail in the circle by which the person is surrounded. Not so with those whose opinions and feelings are an emanation from their own nature and faculties.”
— John Stuart Mill on Freethought
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Stupidity is much the same all the world over. A stupid person's notions and feelings may confidently be inferred from those which prevail in the circle by which the person is surrounded. Not so with those whose opinions and feelings are an emanation from their own nature and faculties.”" in the context of "John Stuart Mill in: Andrew Bailey, et al., The Broadview Anthology of Social and Political Thought: Volume 2: The Twentieth Century and Beyond, Broadview Press, 12 September 2008, p. 970" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Freethought" (Quotes: Quotes are arranged alphabetically by author, M - R)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 8 May 1873), also known as J. S. Mill, was an English political philosopher and economist who was an advocate of utilitarianism.
About John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 8 May 1873), also known as J. S. Mill, was an English political philosopher and economist who was an advocate of utilitarianism.
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