Per Una Come Lei Ce Ne Voglion 106 May 2026

This phrase, "Per una come lei ce ne vogliono 106", is a well-known Italian saying. It doesn’t originate from a single novel or film but is part of popular wisdom, often used in spoken language.

Here is the proper story and meaning behind it.

In modern political discourse, the number 106 has occasionally been cited in discussions regarding parità di genere (gender equality) and electoral lists. In moments of frustration regarding the inclusion of women in government, the phrase has been deployed sarcastically. per una come lei ce ne voglion 106

If a legislative body is overwhelmingly male, a critic might say, "Per una come lei ce ne vogliono 106," implying that for one competent woman to break through the glass ceiling, she must possess the talent, patience, and endurance equivalent to 106 mediocre men. Here, the number becomes a critique of the system—a realization that the bar is set impossibly high for women. It takes 106 units of effort for her to be recognized where others are accepted with ease.

There is no historical document, but a popular anecdote explains the number 106: This phrase, "Per una come lei ce ne

During World War I or II, an Italian soldier wrote a letter to his friend back home, describing a woman he had met. He said: "For one like her, one man is not enough. You would need 106: one to bring her coffee in bed, one to fix the motorcycle, one to argue with her in the evening, one to listen to her poems, and the other 100 just to watch her walk down the street."

The number 106 is arbitrary but has a rhythmic, almost proverbial sound in Italian. Other versions exist (e.g., "ce ne vogliono cento" — you need 100), but "106" stuck because it sounds more precise and humorous. During World War I or II, an Italian

Some linguists suggest that 106 is a playful inversion of the number 100. In Italian, “centouno” (101) is sometimes used to mean “a little more than a hundred.” But 106 pushes further. It implies that even a perfect 100 is insufficient; you need an extra six units of measure—beauty, intelligence, wit, or grace—just to approach her level. The six represents the je ne sais quoi, the x-factor that cannot be quantified.

The saying is used to describe a unique, exceptional, or extremely demanding woman. The idea is: one man isn't enough for her — you would need 106 men to match her energy, intelligence, spirit, or demands.

It can be interpreted in two main ways: