名人励志英语演讲 第57期:永不疲惫,永不气馁,永不完竭(8)

 　　What you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to seek a common good beyond your comfort; to defend needed reforms against easy attacks; to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens: citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character.

　　你们所做的一切和政府的工作同样重要。我希望你们除了追求个人享受之外也要为我们的共同利益而努力；要捍卫必要的改革措施，使其不会轻易被攻击；要从身边小事做起，为我们的国家效力。我希望你们成为真正的公民，而不是旁观者，更不是臣民，是有责任心的公民，共同来建设一个人人奉献的社会和一个独具特色的国家。

　　Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship¹ is missing, no government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it.

　　美国人民慷慨的、坚强的、正派的，这并不是因为我们信任自己，而是因为我们拥有超越自我的信念。这种公民精神一旦丧失了，任何政府计划都无法弥补。而只要这种精神出现了，也没有任何错误可与之抗衡。

　　After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson: "We know the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?"

　　在《独立宣言》签署之后，弗吉尼亚州的政治家约翰·佩齐曾给托马斯·杰弗逊写信说："我们知道，行动敏捷、力量强大不一定就能赢得战争。难道你们不认为这一切都是上帝安排的吗？"

　　Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his inauguration². The years and changes accumulate. But the themes of this day he would know: our nation's grand story of courage and its simple dream of dignity.

　　杰斐逊就任总统的那个年代离我们已经很远了。岁月荏苒，美国发生了翻天覆地的变化。但他肯定能够预知我们这个时代的主题仍然是：我们国家英勇无畏的恢宏故事和它追求尊严的纯朴梦想。

　　We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity³ with his purpose. Yet his purpose is achieved in our duty, and our duty is fulfilled in service to one another.

　　我们不是这个故事的作者，是上帝用时间和不朽实现了他的目标。但我们每一个人通过履行各自的职责使得这一目标得以实现。

　　Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today, to make our country more just and generous, to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life.

　　永不疲惫、永不气馁、永不完竭，今天我们重树这样的目标：使我们的国家变得更加公正、更加慷慨，保证我们每个人和所有人生命的尊严。

　　This work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.

　　这项工作必须继续下去。这个故事必须延续下去。上帝会引领我们前进。

　　God bless you all, and God bless America.

　　愿上帝保佑大家！愿上帝保佑美国！

1 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

2 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

3 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。