公众人物毕业演讲第291期:奥巴马2013莫尔豪斯学院16

 Be the best father you can be to your children.

当好父亲 尽最大努力照顾你的子女.

Because nothing is more important.

因为没有比这更重要的.

I was raised by a heroic¹ single mom.

我由单亲妈妈带大 她是一位英雄.

Wonderful grandparents made incredible² sacrifices for me.

还有极好的外祖父母 他们为我牺牲了很多.

And I know there are moms and grandparents here today who did.

我知道今天也有很多母亲和祖辈到场.

The same thing for all of you.

他们对你们付出得同样多.

But I sure wish I had had a father who was not only present, but involved.

但我也希望我有一个父亲 不仅到场 而且称职.

Didn't know my dad.

我不认识我父亲.

And so my whole life, I!ve tried to be for Michelle and my girls.

所以终我一生 我将为米歇尔和女儿们.

What my father was not for my mother and me.

提供我父亲亏欠我母亲和我的东西.

I want to break that cycle where a father is not at home.

我要打破这种轮回 家里不能没有一个父亲.

Where a father is not helping³ to raise that son or daughter.

家里不能没有一个支撑家庭 抚养子女的父亲.

I want to be a better father, a better husband, a better man.

我要当一个更好的父亲 更好的丈夫 更好的男人.

It's hard work that demands your constant attention and frequent sacrifice.

这很艰难 需要持续的关怀和牺牲.

And I promise you, Michelle will tell you I!m not perfect.

我保证 米歇尔会告诉你们 我并不完美.

She's got a long list of my imperfections.

关于我的缺点 她能列出很长的清单.

Even now, I!m still practicing, I!m still learning⁴.

哪怕现在 我还在练习 还在学习.

Still getting corrected in terms of how to be a fine husband and a good father.

还在纠正错误 以成为一个更称职的丈夫和父亲.

But I will tell you this:.

不过我可以告诉你们.

Everything else is unfulfilled if we fail at family, if we fail at that responsibility.

连家庭和相关责任都无法担起的人 注定一无是处.

I know that when I am on my deathbed someday.

我敢肯定 当我某天临终卧床之时.

I will not be thinking about any particular legislation⁵ I passed.

我不会去回忆我通过了哪些法案.

1 heroic   

adj.英雄的，英勇的，崇高的

参考例句：

• Many people have heard of the man's heroic deeds.许多人都已经听说了这个人的英雄事迹。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

2 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

5 legislation   

n.立法，法律的制定；法规，法律

参考例句：

• They began to draft legislation.他们开始起草法规。
• The liberals band together against the new legislation.自由党员联合一致反对新的立法。