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 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.

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...

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...

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...

Well, I'm a light traveller. I chuck things away.

Well, I'm a light traveller. I chuck things away.

When I was asked to be Writer in Residence at Edinburgh I thought, you can't...

When I was asked to be Writer in Residence at Edinburgh I thought, you can't...

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

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...

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.

All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry...

All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry...

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...

I don't think of myself all the time.

I don't think of myself all the time.

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...

I said I have no powers of invention. Well, I also have no powers of...

I said I have no powers of invention. Well, I also have no powers of...

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 only keep books that I like very much. Otherwise I'd throw them out.

I only keep books that I like very much. Otherwise I'd throw them out.

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...

When I go fishing I like to know that there's nobody within five miles of...

When I go fishing I like to know that there's nobody within five miles of...

When I was a teacher, teachers would come into my classroom and admire my desk...

When I was a teacher, teachers would come into my classroom and admire my desk...

And if they haven't got poetry in them, there's nothing you can do that will...

And if they haven't got poetry in them, there's nothing you can do that will...