When I was asked to be Writer in Residence at Edinburgh I thought, you can't teach poetry. This is ridiculous.

Quote by Norman MacCaig

Topics: Norman MacCaig Quotes

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...

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...

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...

A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the...

A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the...

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...

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 think of myself all the time.

I don't think of myself all the time.

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 it's impossible for me to read Henry James.

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

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 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...

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.

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

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

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 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 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 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 love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in...

Well, I love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in...