What meaneth this?

Question

"Men are men, but Man is a woman"

its a quote from some guy named Chesterton. "Man" was capitalized in the original.

Answer 1

The Napoleon of Nothing Hill Book I, Chapter I

by Gilbert Keith Chesterton

he is talking about humanity on this planet that is appeared to be rational and normal but in fact it is  marked by erratic changeableness

so it appear that Men are men

but the society change man to women

he just give an example using the concept man and a women to show how unrealistic the society is.

hope it make sense

Answer 2

I think its because a woman came from a man, they should be one... I mean they shouldn't argue and love one another...

Answer 3

i am not sure but i do believe it means that when a man is surrounded by other men, he acts as if he's really tough, but when he is alone, he is a man with feelings and he lets them appear, so in this situation, he unveil himself, shows who he is truly, which is actually something women are famous of, expressing feelings

Answer 4

It is the other way round. A woman is a man. Not literally a man. She is like a man. Strong.