They also serve who only stand and wait

Cultural

The last line of the poem “On His Blindness,” by John Milton. The poet reflects that he has a place in God's world despite his disability.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The title of “Only Stand and Wait” comes from a poem by John Milton, who laments his blindness — “my days in this dark world” — but accepts his fate and concludes “they also serve who only stand and wait.”

From Seattle Times

I tell myself, “They also serve, who only stand and wait,” but it seems hollow to me.

From Nature

They also serve who only stand and wait, said Aunt Lydia.

From Literature

As John Milton, that other blind survivor, once noted: Though "Thousands at his bidding speed / And post o'er Land and Ocean without rest: / They also serve who only stand and wait."

From Los Angeles Times

Elizabeth Bishop clarifies the famous words of her blind predecessor John Milton: “They also serve who only stand and wait.”

From New York Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023