I used to fish the Border rivers, but nowadays you have to queue up for a shot and I can't stand that.

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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.

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.

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...