what is the essence of being a man?

Answer 1

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

Answer 2

Ooh, good question! Well, since you put "a" in there I'm going to assume you are asking about gender and not the human race. The following may at first seem misogynistic but read the entire answer and then judge. In my opinion to be a man is not necessarily to be the strongest or the most domineering. Rather, I think it means to be the one who is most likely to succeed in raising a family. And I don't mean someone who exercises an iron fist over his household, someone who is willing to listen and take advice from his wife. Not to say that she has ultimate control in thehousehold, but it will not work if you do not listen. And most of the times if you have taken the time to really get to know someone and you both chose someone who is right for you, you won't disagree on the matter but will instead work together towards a common goal of a succesful relationship. With these kind of people in the world it would be a better place, but instead we see a lack of men who actually listen to their wives or the opposite where the women are in control leads to the same problem that the women today complain about, someone is subjugated, and that's not fair to either sex. The reason I believe the men should be the head of the house is because it is a proven scientific fact that men think more logical and women think more emotional. For instance when I was a child my father had to make the hard decision to put my dog to sleep. She had cancer and there was nothing that could be done for her. My mom wanted her to live a little longer but was thinking emotionally out of love for PB(short for peanut butter) thinking, possibly, that somehow by prolonging her life she would be happier when in fact she was in constant pain and could not keep down food. I also would have liked to see my dog live, but as a man now I realize that it would be selfish of me to keep an animal alive in pain just so I could enjoy her while she was in constant discomfort. He made the right choice even though she disagreed. My parents are right for each other and just celebrated their 25th year anniversary and have had very few problems, the ones they have had, they worked out together. Basically what I'm saying is, the essence of being a man is to, again in my opinion, help propagate the species in a happy environment, one that will nurture and care for everyone envolved so that the cycle will continue for a long time to come. I'm sorry if you disagree, I know people will. I will not "hate on you" for your opinion and I hope you wil not "hate on me" for mine.

Answer 3

Being the most powerful entity in the known Universe. I have the Power. Yes.

Answer 4

Understanding the off side rule in football.

And the ability (nay, the right!) to fall asleep within 30 seconds of having sex!

Answer 5

Being a bit simple in the relationships department, just getting on with things.

Answer 6

Being able to pee standing up

knowing that we built the world
and thinking that I was in charge of the building project

Answer 7

if you are using 'man' to mean all of humankind, then the essence is that we are created in the image and likeness of God and are journeying here on this earth to learn how to love Him and so to spend all eternity with Him.

if you mean 'man' vs 'women', then men's esscense is to be the giver, provider, leader.

Answer 8

Read Rudyard's Kiplings poem , i can only remember one line it goes - if you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs , then you'll be a man my son .

Answer 9

Delegating multi tasking to the gender that does it better.

Answer 10

Protecting, gentle, understanding, intelligent, wise.... ah mythical man!