---
title: "1 Pastoral Tragic Quotes By Ian Hamilton Finlay"
description: "1 Pastoral Tragic quotes by Ian Hamilton Finlay. Plus more from Ian Hamilton Finlay and more Pastoral Tragic sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/ian-hamilton-finlay-26772_beginner_i-am-always-a-beginner-i-only-try-to-inc_111220.png"
---

> [I am always a beginner. I only try to include different parts of life; the pastoral, the tragic, et cetera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/i-am-always-a-beginner-i-only-try-to-include-different-parts-of-life/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/ian-hamilton-finlay-26772_beginner_i-am-always-a-beginner-i-only-try-to-inc_111220.png)

## More by Ian Hamilton Finlay

> [I am always a beginner. I only try to include different parts of life; the pastoral, the tragic, et cetera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/i-am-always-a-beginner-i-only-try-to-include-different-parts-of-life/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [I have often said that just as the French revolution, for instance, understood itself through antiquity, I think our time can be understood through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/i-have-often-said-that-just-as-the-french-revolution-for-instance/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [But I can only write what the muse allows me to write. I cannot choose, I can only do what I am given, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/but-i-can-only-write-what-the-muse-allows-me-to-write-i-cannot-choose/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [But you have to understand that I consider myself a very modest artist, or whatever, and not of importance really at all - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/but-you-have-to-understand-that-i-consider-myself-a-very-modest/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [However, I don't feel the world is looking over my shoulder when I am working - I never think about this at all. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/however-i-don-t-feel-the-world-is-looking-over-my-shoulder-when-i-am/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [The same sort of thing happened in my dispute with the National Trust book: Follies: A National Trust Guide, which implied that the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/the-same-sort-of-thing-happened-in-my-dispute-with-the-national-trust/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [If the work is pure then you have to think it could be understood. If it is not understood it doesn't mean that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/if-the-work-is-pure-then-you-have-to-think-it-could-be-understood-if/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [The present order is the disorder of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/the-present-order-is-the-disorder-of-the-future/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [Certain gardens are described as retreats when they are really attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/certain-gardens-are-described-as-retreats-when-they-are-really-attacks/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [No, I don't make my work in order to challenge or confuse other people's expectations - I only do what I find natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/no-i-don-t-make-my-work-in-order-to-challenge-or-confuse-other-people/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [Little Sparta is a garden in the traditional sense. It is perhaps not like other modern gardens, but I think that other times would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/little-sparta-is-a-garden-in-the-traditional-sense-it-is-perhaps-not/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [As a friendly one. I would still like to write concrete poems, but I can only do it sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/as-a-friendly-one-i-would-still-like-to-write-concrete-poems-but-i/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [But at the beginning it was clear to me that concrete poetry was peculiarly suited for using in public settings. This was my idea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/but-at-the-beginning-it-was-clear-to-me-that-concrete-poetry-was/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [I came to these mediums through having the garden, and of course, people who have designed gardens have always worked in collaboration, and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/i-came-to-these-mediums-through-having-the-garden-and-of-course/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-hamilton-finlay/people-have-always-found-me-challenging-i-don-t-know-why-when-i-am/)

[Ian Hamilton Finlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-hamilton-finlay/)

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