When I was a teacher, teachers would come into my classroom and admire my desk on which lay nothing whatever, whereas theirs were heaped with papers and books.

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

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 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 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

I don't think of myself all the time.

I don't think of myself all the time.

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 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.

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...