What Is The Meaning By "the Child Is The Father Of The Man"

its a paradox. avery child must grow to become the father of another child who will become a man. do u get it? u were a child, now u r a man. one day u will have a child

In my own understanding, when the child is now a full grown adult and his father has become very old, he now assumes the responsibility of taking care of him.  Thus, he (the child) becomes the "father" of the man (his father).

still remember vividly, that paradox was among the questions i answered while in my first year as a psychology undergraduate,
SECOND her, she is correct,