If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk like me regardless of age or sex.

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.

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...

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...

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.

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 it's impossible for me to read Henry James.

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

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.

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...

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

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

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...

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 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...

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 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...

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...

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 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 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.

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...