--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Robert Kirk believed the fairies to be…" description: "\"“Robert Kirk believed the fairies to be the doubles or, as he called them, the 'co-walkers' of men, which accompanied them through life, and thought th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/lewis-spence-26565_fairies_robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-t_1093953.jpg" --- # Robert Kirk believed the fairies to be the doubles or, as… ![“Robert Kirk believed the fairies to be the doubles or, as he called them, the 'co-walkers' of men, which accompanied them through life, and thought that this co-walker returned to Faerie when the person died.” quote by Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/lewis-spence-26565_fairies_robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-t_1093953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/lewis-spence-26565_fairies_robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-t_1093953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/lewis-spence-26565_fairies_robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-t_1093953.jpg) > ““Robert Kirk believed the fairies to be the doubles or, as he called them, the 'co-walkers' of men, which accompanied them through life, and thought that this co-walker returned to Faerie when the person died.”” [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fairies are imagined companions that accompany humans, returning to their realm after death. **In simple terms:** Fairies act as life‑long companions. Key Takeaway Recognize the symbolic role of unseen guides. Themes mythology companionship afterlife spirituality folklore Mood reflective curious Type mythological analytical When to use this quote - storytelling - rituals - personal reflection - cultural studies Key Concepts Animism dualism psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - Do you see co‑walkers as literal or metaphorical? - How do such myths shape cultural identity? A Different Perspective Belief in such beings may be dismissed as superstition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fairies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairies/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“And Miss Potter? Well, having believed in fairies when she was a child and continuing to believe in the creative power of the imagination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/and-miss-potter-well-having-believed-in-fairies-when-she-was-a-child/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [I am quite spiritual. I believed in the fairies when I was a child. I still do sort of believe in the fairies. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/i-am-quite-spiritual-i-believed-in-the-fairies-when-i-was-a-child-i/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [She liked his tears so much that she put out her beautiful finger and let them run over it. Her voice was so low…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-liked-his-tears-so-much-that-she-put-out-her-beautiful-finger-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Of course you don't believe in fairies. You're fifteen. You think I believed in fairies at fifteen? Took me until I was at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/of-course-you-don-t-believe-in-fairies-you-re-fifteen-you-think-i/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“I should add, however, that, particularly on the occasion of Samhain, bonfires were lit with the express intention of scaring away the demonic forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/i-should-add-however-that-particularly-on-the-occasion-of-samhain/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“All three of the English types I have mentioned can, I think, be accounted for as the results of the presence of different cultures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/all-three-of-the-english-types-i-have-mentioned-can-i-think-be/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“It must be understood that in some cases the process by which a god or goddess degenerates into a fairy may occupy centuries, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/it-must-be-understood-that-in-some-cases-the-process-by-which-a-god/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“In my view the study of fairy origins assumes a greater degree of importance than popular opinion is wont to concede to it. Indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/in-my-view-the-study-of-fairy-origins-assumes-a-greater-degree-of/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“At Bealltainn, or May Day, every effort was made to scare away the fairies, who were particularly dreaded at this season. In the West…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/at-bealltainn-or-may-day-every-effort-was-made-to-scare-away-the/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“Here it is necessary briefly to consider the question of the cult of ancestors before venturing farther. The spirits of the departed are believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/here-it-is-necessary-briefly-to-consider-the-question-of-the-cult-of/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“As regards the prohibition on the utterance of the fairy name by mortals, either that of the species as a whole, or of individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/as-regards-the-prohibition-on-the-utterance-of-the-fairy-name-by/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“But this is not to say that a highly specialized body of belief such as that associated with Faerie is not capable of subsidiary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/but-this-is-not-to-say-that-a-highly-specialized-body-of-belief-such/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“But I find it necessary to repeat in this particular place that the division into classes, which is so salient a part of modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/but-i-find-it-necessary-to-repeat-in-this-particular-place-that-the/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“As Mr. R. U. Sayee has well said: 'It should be clear a priori that fairy lore must have developed as a result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/as-mr-r-u-sayee-has-well-said-it-should-be-clear-a-priori-that-fairy/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“If we turn now to such vestiges of cult as are associated otherwise than with time and season, we discover a definite recognition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/if-we-turn-now-to-such-vestiges-of-cult-as-are-associated-otherwise/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) ## More by Lewis Spence > [“If we turn now to such vestiges of cult as are associated otherwise than with time and season, we discover a definite recognition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/if-we-turn-now-to-such-vestiges-of-cult-as-are-associated-otherwise/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“As Mr. R. U. Sayee has well said: 'It should be clear a priori that fairy lore must have developed as a result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/as-mr-r-u-sayee-has-well-said-it-should-be-clear-a-priori-that-fairy/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“But I find it necessary to repeat in this particular place that the division into classes, which is so salient a part of modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/but-i-find-it-necessary-to-repeat-in-this-particular-place-that-the/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“But this is not to say that a highly specialized body of belief such as that associated with Faerie is not capable of subsidiary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/but-this-is-not-to-say-that-a-highly-specialized-body-of-belief-such/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“As regards the prohibition on the utterance of the fairy name by mortals, either that of the species as a whole, or of individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/as-regards-the-prohibition-on-the-utterance-of-the-fairy-name-by/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“Here it is necessary briefly to consider the question of the cult of ancestors before venturing farther. The spirits of the departed are believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/here-it-is-necessary-briefly-to-consider-the-question-of-the-cult-of/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“At Bealltainn, or May Day, every effort was made to scare away the fairies, who were particularly dreaded at this season. In the West…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/at-bealltainn-or-may-day-every-effort-was-made-to-scare-away-the/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“In my view the study of fairy origins assumes a greater degree of importance than popular opinion is wont to concede to it. Indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/in-my-view-the-study-of-fairy-origins-assumes-a-greater-degree-of/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“It must be understood that in some cases the process by which a god or goddess degenerates into a fairy may occupy centuries, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/it-must-be-understood-that-in-some-cases-the-process-by-which-a-god/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“All three of the English types I have mentioned can, I think, be accounted for as the results of the presence of different cultures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/all-three-of-the-english-types-i-have-mentioned-can-i-think-be/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“I should add, however, that, particularly on the occasion of Samhain, bonfires were lit with the express intention of scaring away the demonic forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/i-should-add-however-that-particularly-on-the-occasion-of-samhain/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“It must not be thought, however, that in pagan Ireland Fairyland was altogether conceived as a Hades or place of the dead. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/it-must-not-be-thought-however-that-in-pagan-ireland-fairyland-was/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“To sum up: all nature-spirits are not the same as fairies; nor are all fairies nature-spirits. The same applies to the relationship of nature-spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/to-sum-up-all-nature-spirits-are-not-the-same-as-fairies-nor-are-all/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“In all likelihood fairies of larger stature were ancient gods in a state of decay, while their diminutive congeners were the swarming spirits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/in-all-likelihood-fairies-of-larger-stature-were-ancient-gods-in-a/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [“...some evidence seems to exist that an idea prevailed that in the fairy sphere there is a reversal of the seasons, our winter being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/some-evidence-seems-to-exist-that-an-idea-prevailed-that-in-the-fairy/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) [Explore all 21 Lewis Spence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) ## More Fairies quotes > [“This was going to be worse than the time I table danced in the diner in high school!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bryson/this-was-going-to-be-worse-than-the-time-i-table-danced-in-the-diner/) [Kathy Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bryson/) > [“The folk of a Celtic type, whether pre-Celtic, Celtic, or Norse, have all spoken a Celtic language and exhibit the same old Celtic characteristics—vanity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-macculloch/the-folk-of-a-celtic-type-whether-pre-celtic-celtic-or-norse-have-all/) J.A. Macculloch > [“Could we wear spandex and blow things up?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mantchev/could-we-wear-spandex-and-blow-things-up/) [Lisa Mantchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mantchev/) > [“There are little fairies outside,” I breathed, forcing out the words through quick breaths. His brows drew together in a way that wasn’t scary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/there-are-little-fairies-outside-i-breathed-forcing-out-the-words/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Do you believe in fairies?...If you believe, clap your hands!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-barrie/do-you-believe-in-fairies-if-you-believe-clap-your-hands/) [J.M. Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-barrie/) > [“Faster than fairies, faster than witches, Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches; And charging along like troops in a battle All through the meadows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/faster-than-fairies-faster-than-witches-bridges-and-houses-hedges-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you use magic outside the school, we are going to get into more trouble than ever. I’m still not allowed to eat sweets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-m-olchawska/if-you-use-magic-outside-the-school-we-are-going-to-get-into-more/) [Magda M. Olchawska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-m-olchawska/) > [“What's it like where they live?" "It's everything you want it to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/what-s-it-like-where-they-live-it-s-everything-you-want-it-to-be/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“If we turn now to such vestiges of cult as are associated otherwise than with time and season, we discover a definite recognition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/if-we-turn-now-to-such-vestiges-of-cult-as-are-associated-otherwise/) [Lewis Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/) > [Again, if there are really no fairies, why do people believe in them, all over the world? The ancient Greeks believed, so did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/again-if-there-are-really-no-fairies-why-do-people-believe-in-them/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Her father...was all front to back in his transparency: what you saw was what there was, there was nothing clandestine in his character, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-wiggins/her-father-was-all-front-to-back-in-his-transparency-what-you-saw-was/) [Marianne Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-wiggins/) > [“That's where both the Fae and the dragons fail…"They are defined either by narrative or reality. They don't go beyond that. The only person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-cogman/that-s-where-both-the-fae-and-the-dragons-fail-they-are-defined/) [Genevieve Cogman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-cogman/) > [“for frail but surprisingly strong fairies who had lost their way above ground for burned mermaids and sick vampire girls for wild wolfish women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/for-frail-but-surprisingly-strong-fairies-who-had-lost-their-way/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“I hope to be bowing in front of you for a long time.” He takes my hand, drops to one knee, and kisses my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-copeland/i-hope-to-be-bowing-in-front-of-you-for-a-long-time-he-takes-my-hand/) [Tricia Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-copeland/) > [ “Maybe \[aliens\] have been in our lives a lot longer than we want to admit. People have always seen strange things—elves and fairies—and now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/maybe-aliens-have-been-in-our-lives-a-lot-longer-than-we-want-to/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) [Browse all 389 Fairies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Robert Kirk believed the fairies to be the doubles or, as he called them, the 'co-walkers' of men, which accompanied them through life, and thought that this co-walker returned to Faerie when the person died.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lewis Spence" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-the-doubles-or-as-he-called/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fairies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-the-doubles-or-as-he-called/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/lewis-spence-26565_fairies_robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-t_1093953.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/lewis-spence-26565_fairies_robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-t_1093953.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/lewis-spence-26565_fairies_robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-t_1093953.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Robert Kirk believed the fairies to be the doubles or, as he called them, the 'co-walkers' of men, which…” — Lewis Spence", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lewis Spence", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-spence/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Robert Kirk believed the fairies to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-the-doubles-or-as-he-called/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-spence/robert-kirk-believed-the-fairies-to-be-the-doubles-or-as-he-called/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```