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

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

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.

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...

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 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.

I don't think of myself all the time.

I don't think of myself all the time.

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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the...

A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the...

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

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

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

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...

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 find it's impossible for me to read Proust.

I find it's impossible for me to read Proust.

People haven't got the interest in long long works these days. A lack of interest...

People haven't got the interest in long long works these days. A lack of interest...

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...

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...

All I write about is what's happened to me and to people I know, and...

All I write about is what's happened to me and to people I know, and...