However, I don't feel the world is looking over my shoulder when I am working - I never think about this at all. What I think about is trying to make my work pure, and if it is pure then…

Quote by Ian Hamilton Finlay

Topics: Ian Hamilton Finlay Quotes

Little Sparta is a garden in the traditional sense. It is perhaps not like other...

Little Sparta is a garden in the traditional sense. It is perhaps not like other...

But you have to understand that I consider myself a very modest artist, or whatever,...

But you have to understand that I consider myself a very modest artist, or whatever,...

As a friendly one. I would still like to write concrete poems, but I can...

As a friendly one. I would still like to write concrete poems, but I can...

The same sort of thing happened in my dispute with the National Trust book: Follies:...

The same sort of thing happened in my dispute with the National Trust book: Follies:...

If the work is pure then you have to think it could be understood. If...

If the work is pure then you have to think it could be understood. If...

My position is that since the non-secular status of my garden is not recognised by...

My position is that since the non-secular status of my garden is not recognised by...

No, I don't make my work in order to challenge or confuse other people's expectations...

No, I don't make my work in order to challenge or confuse other people's expectations...

I am always a beginner. I only try to include different parts of life; the...

I am always a beginner. I only try to include different parts of life; the...

I have often said that just as the French revolution, for instance, understood itself through...

I have often said that just as the French revolution, for instance, understood itself through...

But I can only write what the muse allows me to write. I cannot choose,...

But I can only write what the muse allows me to write. I cannot choose,...

Well, probably I was fed up with concrete poetry. There was a lot of badTo...

Well, probably I was fed up with concrete poetry. There was a lot of badTo...

I am not a modern man, I am just a wee old fashioned one.

I am not a modern man, I am just a wee old fashioned one.

I came to these mediums through having the garden, and of course, people who have...

I came to these mediums through having the garden, and of course, people who have...

For me concrete poetry was a particular way of using language which came out of...

For me concrete poetry was a particular way of using language which came out of...

But at the beginning it was clear to me that concrete poetry was peculiarly suited...

But at the beginning it was clear to me that concrete poetry was peculiarly suited...

People have always found me challenging - I don't know why, when I am only...

People have always found me challenging - I don't know why, when I am only...

What you compose with is neither here nor there, you compose with words, or you...

What you compose with is neither here nor there, you compose with words, or you...