Questionable quote

On the opening page (p. 147) of the Life section of Canadian Living this month is a quote from Clarence Thomas, the U.S. Supreme Court justice:

Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.

Which would be all very well (nice sentiment) were it not coming from someone whose appointment to the bench was accompanied by considerable controversy, never fully resolved. Perhaps people have forgotten, a friend observes:

Surely I am not the only one to think that the quote...is unintentionally funny (and tipping towards bad judgment for a women's magazine). Am betting it was selected by a young-ish editor who doesn't know who Anita Hill is so might not question whether Clarence Thomas should be offering advice on good manners.