--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For no matter whether the fairies are…" description: "\"“For no matter whether the fairies are seen metaphorically or as real beings inhabiting their own real world, a study of them shows us that those who c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/eddie-lenihan-47235_beings_for-no-matter-whether-the-fairies-are-se_2942876.jpg" --- # For no matter whether the fairies are seen metaphorically… ![“For no matter whether the fairies are seen metaphorically or as real beings inhabiting their own real world, a study of them shows us that those who came before us (and many of that mindset still survive) realized that we are -- no matter what we may think to the contrary -- very little creatures…” quote by Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/eddie-lenihan-47235_beings_for-no-matter-whether-the-fairies-are-se_2942876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/eddie-lenihan-47235_beings_for-no-matter-whether-the-fairies-are-se_2942876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f1/eddie-lenihan-47235_beings_for-no-matter-whether-the-fairies-are-se_2942876.jpg) > ““For no matter whether the fairies are seen metaphorically or as real beings inhabiting their own real world, a study of them shows us that those who came before us (and many of that mindset still survive) realized that we are -- no matter what we may think to the contrary -- very little creatures, here for a short time only ('passing through,' as the old people say) and that we have no right to destroy what the next generation will most assuredly need to also see itself through. If only we could learn that lesson, maybe someday we might be worthy of the wisdom of those who knew that to respect the Good People is basically to respect yourself.”” [Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Respect for past wisdom teaches humility and stewardship of shared resources. **In simple terms:** Honoring ancestors guides responsible living. Key Takeaway Practice humility and protect future needs. Themes humility stewardship respect for elders Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - community planning - environmental activism - education curricula - family traditions - policy making Key Concepts intergenerational ethics environmental responsibility cultural heritage Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor past teachings today? - What resources will you protect for future generations? A Different Perspective Modern life may overlook ancient lessons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Environmentalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmentalism/) [Fairies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairies/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Next generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) [Old people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-people/) [Real world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-world/) [Respect yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-yourself/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“You think I don’t deserve him,” I say to Cardan. He smiles slowly, like the moon slipping beneath the waves of the lake. “Oh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-think-i-don-t-deserve-him-i-say-to-cardan-he-smiles-slowly-like/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Where the real world changes into simple images, the simple images become real beings and effective motivations of hypnotic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-debord/where-the-real-world-changes-into-simple-images-the-simple-images/) [Guy Debord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-debord/) > [“We all accepted that this land was a gate to that other world, the realm of spirits and dreams and the Fair Folk, without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/we-all-accepted-that-this-land-was-a-gate-to-that-other-world-the/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [“Religion allows people to ignore the needs of real beings in favour of the supposed wishes of a being that does not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alom-shaha/religion-allows-people-to-ignore-the-needs-of-real-beings-in-favour/) Alom Shaha > [“The largest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy and prosperity,' warns Czech president Vaclav Klaus, 'is no longer socialism. It is, instead, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/the-largest-threat-to-freedom-democracy-the-market-economy-and/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [“There's terrible evil in the world." It comes from men," said Holly. "All other elil do what they have to do and Frith moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/there-s-terrible-evil-in-the-world-it-comes-from-men-said-holly-all/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“When we burn fossil fuel for energy we are, in qualitative terms, doing nothing more wrong than burning wood. Our wrongdoing, if that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/when-we-burn-fossil-fuel-for-energy-we-are-in-qualitative-terms-doing/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [“Wolves attack the hindquarters of prey first, biting into the animal's meaty rump or ham. They stay away from the tendons near the hooves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-t-coleman/wolves-attack-the-hindquarters-of-prey-first-biting-into-the-animal-s/) Jon T. Coleman > [A good zoo," Stella said, "is a large domain. A wild cage. A safe place to be. It has room to roam and humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-applegate/a-good-zoo-stella-said-is-a-large-domain-a-wild-cage-a-safe-place-to/) [Katherine Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-applegate/) > [“Nothing is more important to human beings than an ecologically functioning, life sustaining biosphere on the earth. It is the only habitable place we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-guth/nothing-is-more-important-to-human-beings-than-an-ecologically/) Joseph Guth > [It's really important to me to show the interconnectedness of things. I always try to illustrate how environmentalism, humanitarianism, animal rights - all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hannah/it-s-really-important-to-me-to-show-the-interconnectedness-of-things/) [Daryl Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hannah/) > [“To save our dying earth, any government which is not environmentalist must go because on earth there are thousands of governments but there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-save-our-dying-earth-any-government-which-is-not-environmentalist/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“You wanna know why the world is f\*\*ked? This is why, this is exactly why…right here. Get a pen, write this down, this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lyndsy/you-wanna-know-why-the-world-is-f-ked-this-is-why-this-is-exactly-why/) Shannon Lyndsy > [Truly environmentalism has displaced economics as the dismal science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-f-hayward/truly-environmentalism-has-displaced-economics-as-the-dismal-science/) [Steven F. Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-f-hayward/) > [Environmentalism, apocalyptic environmentalism in particular, has become the dominant religion of supposedly secular people in the West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/environmentalism-apocalyptic-environmentalism-in-particular-has/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) ## More by Eddie Lenihan > [“But it was always thus with Irishmen. Never, since the start of the world, has one of them taken a woman's sensible advice when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-lenihan/but-it-was-always-thus-with-irishmen-never-since-the-start-of-the/) [Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) > [“And there, on that road, that very minute, he started to play - the most lonesome music that them priests ever in their lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-lenihan/and-there-on-that-road-that-very-minute-he-started-to-play-the-most/) [Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) > [“And he got going from there to America. Worked his passage, I s'pose, like a lot more. And I heard he did well in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-lenihan/and-he-got-going-from-there-to-america-worked-his-passage-i-s-pose/) [Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) > [“Things most oft bad begun most oft get worse, as a wise man once said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-lenihan/things-most-oft-bad-begun-most-oft-get-worse-as-a-wise-man-once-said/) [Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) > [“There'll be no more music, Father. But there'll be this!" He stepped into the dark, picked up the knife, and held it under their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-lenihan/there-ll-be-no-more-music-father-but-there-ll-be-this-he-stepped-into/) [Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) > [“Thus Betty scraped through a second bitter crisis, one that might have shattered a character more brittle. But she had grown sharp as bile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-lenihan/thus-betty-scraped-through-a-second-bitter-crisis-one-that-might-have/) [Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) > [“Who're them?" says he to the curate. "Them are the fallen angels," says the curate. They had a human form, no wings. God took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-lenihan/who-re-them-says-he-to-the-curate-them-are-the-fallen-angels-says-the/) [Eddie Lenihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) [Explore all 8 Eddie Lenihan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-lenihan/) ## More Beings quotes > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [A composer knows that music is written by human beings for human beings and that music is a continuation of life, not something separated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanns-eisler/a-composer-knows-that-music-is-written-by-human-beings-for-human/) Hanns Eisler > [For our purposes as human beings, the mind is the center of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/for-our-purposes-as-human-beings-the-mind-is-the-center-of-everything/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [I'm a humanist at heart: at the end of the day, we are all human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/i-m-a-humanist-at-heart-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-are-all-human-beings/) [Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/) > [My intended audience was everybody. I just want to make cartoons for human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kricfalusi/my-intended-audience-was-everybody-i-just-want-to-make-cartoons-for/) [John Kricfalusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kricfalusi/) > [Everyone else on the planet, from the lowest amoebae to the great blue whale, expresses all their component elements in a perfect dance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-lore/everyone-else-on-the-planet-from-the-lowest-amoebae-to-the-great-blue/) [Nicholas Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-lore/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [As human beings, we aren't as individual as we'd like to believe we are. 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There are constant revelations and room for growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamman-rucker/we-re-human-beings-trying-to-love-each-other-there-are-constant/) [Lamman Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamman-rucker/) > [“There are no greater or truer lords, gods, fathers, sons or holy spirits, than the humans. Humans are the highest beings on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-are-no-greater-or-truer-lords-gods-fathers-sons-or-holy-spirits/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, for he sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/although-we-might-settle-for-less-heavenly-father-won-t-for-he-sees/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) Browse all 979 Beings quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For no matter whether the fairies are seen metaphorically or as real beings inhabiting their own real world, a study of them shows us that those who came before us (and many of that mindset still survive) realized that we are -- no matter what we may think to the contrary -- very little creatures, here for a short time only ('passing through,' as the old people say) and that we have no right to destroy what the next generation will most assuredly need to also see itself through. 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