---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter how well-born, how intelligent…"
description: "\"No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly educated, how virtuous, how rich, how refined, the women of to-day constitutea political class bel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi-437_born_no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent_29060.jpg"
---

#  No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly…

![“No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly educated, how virtuous, how rich, how refined, the women of to-day constitutea political class below that of every man, no matter how base-born, how stupid, how ignorant, how vicious, how poverty-stricken, how brutal. The pauper in the almshouse…” quote by Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi-437_born_no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent_29060.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi-437_born_no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent_29060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f67/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi-437_born_no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent_29060.jpg)

> “No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly educated, how virtuous, how rich, how refined, the women of to-day constitutea political class below that of every man, no matter how base-born, how stupid, how ignorant, how vicious, how poverty-stricken, how brutal. The pauper in the almshouse may vote; the lady who devotes her philanthropic thought to making that almshouse habitable, may not. The tramp who begs cold victuals in the kitchen may vote; the heiress who feeds him and endows universities may not.”

[Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote critiques systemic gender inequality, highlighting that women, regardless of status or virtue, are denied political agency while men of lower standing retain voting rights.

**In simple terms:** Gender-based disenfranchisement

Key Takeaway

Political rights are not merit-based

Themes

Gender inequality Political disenfranchisement Class disparity Social justice Historical sexism

Mood

defiant critical urgent

Type

Political Feminist Historical

When to use this quote

- Historical voting reforms
- Women's suffrage movements
- Contemporary gender parity debates
- Legal challenges to discriminatory laws
- Academic discussions on feminist theory

Key Concepts

Voting rights Patriarchal structures Social hierarchy Legal discrimination

Practical Applications

- Advocacy for equal voting rights
- Policy analysis of gender discrimination

Questions to Reflect On

- How does gender intersect with class in political rights?
- What mechanisms perpetuate disenfranchisement despite merit?

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