Books
Men’s men: gentle or simple, they’re much of a muchness.
— George Eliot • Daniel Deronda

Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
This offers a flat, slightly cynical observation that men, whether refined or plain, tend to be more alike underneath than their different manners suggest. It's a dry generalization, noting that surface polish doesn't change much about the basic patterns of behavior beneath it.
Context reviewed