--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And in a way, that's been a help to me…" description: "\"And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions for a particular poet - sometimes it lasts for many years, sometimes only for a w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/norman-maccaig-15658_happens_and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-be_927459.png" --- # And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take… ![“And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions for a particular poet - sometimes it lasts for many years, sometimes only for a while. This happens to everybody.” quote by Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/norman-maccaig-15658_happens_and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-be_927459.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/norman-maccaig-15658_happens_and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-be_927459.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/norman-maccaig-15658_happens_and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-be_927459.png) > “And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions for a particular poet - sometimes it lasts for many years, sometimes only for a while. This happens to everybody.” [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Passion for a poet can be fleeting or lasting, reflecting how personal interests evolve over time. **In simple terms:** Poetry interests can change. Key Takeaway Accept changing interests gracefully. Themes art passion transience Mood reflective melancholic Type personal literary When to use this quote - reading poetry - creative writing - academic study - personal reflection Key Concepts literary appreciation personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain artistic inspiration? - What triggers a shift in your creative focus? A Different Perspective Passion may wane without deeper connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [“Power lasts ten years; influence not more than a hundred.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/power-lasts-ten-years-influence-not-more-than-a-hundred/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [I was nine when I first knew I wanted to be a writer, in particular, a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/i-was-nine-when-i-first-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-in-particular-a/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [In poetry, and in my study in graduate school, I was drawn to a particular poet, Theodore Roethke. I did a dissertation on "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-poetry-and-in-my-study-in-graduate-school-i-was-drawn-to-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [... People with great passions, people who accomplish great deeds, people who possess strong feelings, even people with great minds and a strong personality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-with-great-passions-people-who-accomplish-great-deeds-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Great passions may give us a quickened sense of life, ecstasy and sorrow of love, the various forms of enthusiastic activity, disinterested or otherwise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/great-passions-may-give-us-a-quickened-sense-of-life-ecstasy-and/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [The great passions had never been moved by a perfect body but by an evolved mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cardus/the-great-passions-had-never-been-moved-by-a-perfect-body-but-by-an/) [Merce Cardus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cardus/) > [Only passions, and great passions, can raise the soul to great things. Without them there is no sublimity, either in morals or in creativity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/only-passions-and-great-passions-can-raise-the-soul-to-great-things/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Great passions are incurable diseases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/great-passions-are-incurable-diseases/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Great passions may either bring great victories or great sorrows! In both cases, it is always a great privilege to have great passions!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/great-passions-may-either-bring-great-victories-or-great-sorrows-in/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Traveling is one of my great passions and something I do a lot of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-lloyd/traveling-is-one-of-my-great-passions-and-something-i-do-a-lot-of/) [Sabrina Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-lloyd/) > [“He seemed to have established in his mind an affinity between the two great passions of his life – pale ale and revolution –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/he-seemed-to-have-established-in-his-mind-an-affinity-between-the-two/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [Only passions, great passions can elevate the soul to great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/only-passions-great-passions-can-elevate-the-soul-to-great-things/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [The great things in life are what they seem to be. And for that reason, strange as it may sound to you, often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-great-things-in-life-are-what-they-seem-to-be-and-for-that-reason/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Those that have had great passions esteem themselves for the rest of their lives fortunate and unfortunate in being cured of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/those-that-have-had-great-passions-esteem-themselves-for-the-rest-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One of my great passions is the collection of historical trivia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-abbey/one-of-my-great-passions-is-the-collection-of-historical-trivia/) [Lynn Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-abbey/) ## More by Norman MacCaig > [“The day Was like the buzzard on the pine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/the-day-was-like-the-buzzard-on-the-pine/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [In fact a lot of them I think are absolute baloney. Those Charles Olsens and people like that. At first I was interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/in-fact-a-lot-of-them-i-think-are-absolute-baloney-those-charles/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk like me regardless of age or sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/if-i-wrote-a-play-with-four-characters-every-single-one-of-them-would/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I don't think of myself all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-don-t-think-of-myself-all-the-time/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [And it's impossible for me to read Henry James.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-it-s-impossible-for-me-to-read-henry-james/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [And the second question, can poetry be taught? I didn't think so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-the-second-question-can-poetry-be-taught-i-didn-t-think-so/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [Anybody who writes doesn't like to be misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/anybody-who-writes-doesn-t-like-to-be-misunderstood/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [All those authors there, most of whom of course I've never met. That's the poetry side, that's the prose side, that's the fishing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/all-those-authors-there-most-of-whom-of-course-i-ve-never-met-that-s/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [But I hang on to books. I love them. I even think they're very nice decor in a room - far better than paintings...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/but-i-hang-on-to-books-i-love-them-i-even-think-they-re-very-nice/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I find it's impossible for me to read Proust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-find-it-s-impossible-for-me-to-read-proust/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I was very interested in American poetry for many years. Much less now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-was-very-interested-in-american-poetry-for-many-years-much-less-now/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [A terrible thing about getting oldish is that your friends start dying, and in the last ten years I have lost seven or eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/a-terrible-thing-about-getting-oldish-is-that-your-friends-start/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I learned words, I learned words; but half of them died from lack of exercise. And the ones I use often look at me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-learned-words-i-learned-words-but-half-of-them-died-from-lack-of/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [Well, I love fishing. I wouldn't kill a fly myself but I've no hesitation in killing a fish. A lot of men are like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/well-i-love-fishing-i-wouldn-t-kill-a-fly-myself-but-i-ve-no/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I never think about poetry except when I'm writing it. I mean my poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/i-never-think-about-poetry-except-when-i-m-writing-it-i-mean-my-poetry/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) [Explore all 42 Norman MacCaig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) ## More Happens quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [The amazing thing is that we live our lives with the hope that things will go right, that things will happen. And all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/the-amazing-thing-is-that-we-live-our-lives-with-the-hope-that-things/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) Browse all 13,486 Happens quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions for a particular poet - sometimes it lasts for many years, sometimes only for a while. This happens to everybody.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman MacCaig" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-because-i-take-great-passions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-because-i-take-great-passions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/norman-maccaig-15658_happens_and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-be_927459.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/norman-maccaig-15658_happens_and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-be_927459.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/norman-maccaig-15658_happens_and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-be_927459.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And in a way, that's been a help to me, because I take great passions for a particular poet - sometimes it…” — Norman MacCaig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norman MacCaig", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "And in a way, that's been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-because-i-take-great-passions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/and-in-a-way-that-s-been-a-help-to-me-because-i-take-great-passions/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```