It's like breathing in and out to me. It's like having a conversation with someone who isn't there. Because it has to be addressed to somebody - not a particular person, or very rarely.

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.

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

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

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...

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 don't think of myself all the time.

I don't think of myself all the time.

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...

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...

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 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...

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 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...

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 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 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...

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 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 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.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

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'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.