All I write about is what's happened to me and to people I know, and the better I know them, the more likely they are to be written about.

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

I don't care whether a book is a first edition or not. I'm not a...

I don't care whether a book is a first edition or not. I'm not a...

However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry...

However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry...

But you'd have a job to find many of my poems which would seem to...

But you'd have a job to find many of my poems which would seem to...

But I hang on to books. I love them. I even think they're very nice...

But I hang on to books. I love them. I even think they're very nice...

I never think about poetry except when I'm writing it. I mean my poetry.

I never think about poetry except when I'm writing it. I mean my poetry.

I used to have a great love for Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy, the big boys of...

I used to have a great love for Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy, the big boys of...

In fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and...

In fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and...

It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone...

It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone...

I'm very gregarious, but I love being in the hills on my own.

I'm very gregarious, but I love being in the hills on my own.

Well, I love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in...

Well, I love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in...

I used to fish the Border rivers, but nowadays you have to queue up for...

I used to fish the Border rivers, but nowadays you have to queue up for...

And some poets are far better read off the page because they're very bad speakers....

And some poets are far better read off the page because they're very bad speakers....

There are some friends you don't meet for twenty years and when you meet them...

There are some friends you don't meet for twenty years and when you meet them...

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now.

I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now.

If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk...

If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk...

And it's impossible for me to read Henry James.

And it's impossible for me to read Henry James.

And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions...

And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions...

When I talk of hearing a poet's voice speaking, I always think of it as...

When I talk of hearing a poet's voice speaking, I always think of it as...

And the second question, can poetry be taught? I didn't think so.

And the second question, can poetry be taught? I didn't think so.