… did it again. At 9:35, in this speech today, he again cited Keats as the author of the line “They also serve who only stand and wait.”
In this post, UD pointed out that the source of this line, about as unKeatsian a line as I can think of, is John Milton:
318. On His Blindness
WHEN I consider how my light is spent
E’re half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide,
Lodg’d with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, least he returning chide,
Doth God exact day-labour, light deny’d,
I fondly ask; But patience to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts, who best
Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’re Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and waite.
No one seems to care; there wasn’t any commentary when he did it before; there’s no commentary this time. Two people – UD and a reader – care.
April 25th, 2013 at 2:29AM
And even worse–Biden’s home state features a town named for John Milton, but none named for Keats!
April 25th, 2013 at 5:17AM
Owen: Okay, that’s three people who care.
UD
April 25th, 2013 at 8:23AM
I think we should be pleased when Biden attempt to credit the words of others, however errantly, instead of simply stealing them. Baby steps.
April 25th, 2013 at 2:37PM
I admire Colin’s take on the situation. incorrect citations over no citations at all.
April 25th, 2013 at 3:40PM
Yeah, but Milton cribbed it from Keats.