Peter Porter Quotes

I've grown up surrounded by Americans and to a very large extent feel American. It sounds strange because I seem to be so quintessentially English in everyone's mind - and perhaps I am. Perhaps it's quintessentially English to have a fascination with America.

If I go to England, they know I'm not an Englishman, but most Americans think I'm English.

If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn't make you English.

He was born an Englishman and remained one for years.

I've never felt more American than I did when I moved to England. It becomes a real kind of part of your identity: "Oh, Ben. He's the American guy." I think when you say you're from New York you get a different reception then if you just say, "I'm American." So I'd always kind of make sure I was a New Yorker first.

I was born abroad, but my parents were both English. Still, those few years of separation, and then coming back to England as an outsider, did give me an ability to see the country in a slightly detached way. I suppose I was made aware of what Englishness actually is because I only became immersed in it later in life.

I write poetry anyway and have for years and years. For me, putting fiction and poetry together is like the best of both worlds.

A great poet is the most precious jewel of a nation.

Only when I came to America did I think of myself as British.

I am not making spiteful assertions now but merely stating the facts-that, for instance, among Hungarian generals there is such a considerable percentage of men of German origin, who of course had, in most cases, to alter their names if they wanted to get anywhere.

Maybe I am not French, maybe I am from nowhere.

I wanted to reimagine the role, in a way that was respectful of its traditional responsibilities but made them part of a wider pattern of poetry about national incidents, events, preoccupations; and to spend a great deal of time going to schools trying to demystify poetry.

Among the American contemporaries I read with most enjoyment are several North Carolinians. I think the best poetry being written these days is being written by Southerners.

I tell people, 'I'm American. I act.'

I think Brits probably feel that Americans are more like us than vice-versa, if that makes sense. Because we get everything American over here in Britain, but yet there are things which are staunchly English that you guys don't have.

The Africans know I'm not an African. I'm an American.

But I don't think of myself as a foreigner or a Frenchman! I just think of myself as a director.

I'll never forget where I'm from, never forget my roots. It doesn't matter where I live. I'm English, simple as that.

Tell people you're a Canadian or a Kiwi when you travel and they'll adore you.

I do notice that when I come in to meet casting people, they love that I'm Australian. Maybe it's our good work ethic.

Arrogant, I think I have written lines which qualify me to be The Poetess of America (as Ted will be The Poet of England and her dominions).

The appellation of a Scottish Bard is by far my highest pride; to continue to deserve it is my most exalted ambition.

Citizenship and ethnicity can become, in certain contexts, restrictive, and perhaps that's one reason I was interested in people who feel compelled to mask their origins and thereby circumvent the restrictions.

You can't generalise about an entire country, but I like the energy of British men.

My brother and I were brought up sort of thinking that we were English. I remember hearing the poet Roy Campbell on the radio and being quite shocked that he had a South African accent. I didn't know there were any South African poets.