31 Quotes by Ian Hamilton Finlay

Yes, I think we have created a culture in which there is a complete absence of piety of any kind. And piety was always an ingredient of culture.

I suppose also I came to classicism through reading philosophy, but I suppose the interest was already in me or I wouldn't have read philosophy.

At that time I was completely engrossed in concrete poetry, and I suppose I didn't approve of people writing poetry that was not concrete.

The present order is the disorder of the future.

Certain gardens are described as retreats when they are really attacks.

But you have to understand that I consider myself a very modest artist, or whatever, and not of importance really at all – it is quite embarrassing to me to be asked my opinion about things. I am only a wee Scottish poet on the outside of everything.

For me concrete poetry was a particular way of using language which came out of a particular feeling, and I don’t have control over whether this feeling is in me or not.

People have always found me challenging – I don’t know why, when I am only being myself. I don’t understand why they find me so annoying but they do. It is pity, but that is how it is.

But I can only write what the muse allows me to write. I cannot choose, I can only do what I am given, and I feel pleased when I feel close to concrete poetry – still.