This is starting to remind me of a poem by D.H. Lawrence:

What Is He?

A man, of course.
-Yes, but what does he do?
He lives and is a man.
-Oh quite! but he must work. He must have a job of some sort.
Why?
-Because obviously he's not one of the leisured classes.
I don't know. He has lots of leisure. And he makes quite beautiful chairs.
-There you are then! He's a cabinet maker.
No, no!
-Anyhow, a carpenter and joiner.
Not at all.
-But you said so.
What did I say?
-That he made chairs, and was a joiner and carpenter.
I said he made chairs, but I did not say he was a carpenter.
-All right then, he's just an amateur?
Perhaps! Would you say a thrush was a professional flautist, or just an amateur?
-I'd say it was just a bird.
And I say he is just a man.
-All right! You always did quibble.