---
title: "1 Think Understood Quotes By Ian Hamilton Finlay"
description: "1 Think Understood quotes by Ian Hamilton Finlay. Plus more from Ian Hamilton Finlay and more Think Understood sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/ian-hamilton-finlay-26772_mean_if-the-work-is-pure-then-you-have-to-thi_1178025.jpg"
---

> [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 work is not accessible. It doesn't worry me, but, of course, I would be pleased if…](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/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/ian-hamilton-finlay-26772_mean_if-the-work-is-pure-then-you-have-to-thi_1178025.jpg)

## 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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