Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

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 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.

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...

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

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

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

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

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...

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.

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 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...

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...

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

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

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...

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 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...