名校励志英语演讲 137:敢于竞争 勇于关爱(4)

 　　I'm sure you'll receive good advice. You're got a great education to go back and reflect about what is right for you, but you eventually will have to choose and I hope that you will dare to compete. And by that I don't mean the kind of cutthroat competition that is too often characterized¹ by what is driving America today. I mean the small voice inside you that says to you, you can do it, you can take this risk, you can take this next step.

　　我相信你们会得到很好的建议。你们接受了良好的教育，这些教育能让你们明白什么最适合自己，但最终你们还是要做出选择，我希望你们敢于竞争。但是我指的并不是那种激烈的竞争，而是源于心底的那种微妙的声音，告诉你，你可以去做这件事情，你可以去冒这次险，你可以走这一步。

　　And it doesn't mean that once having made that choice you will always succeed. In fact, you won't. There are setbacks and you will experience difficult disappointments. You will be slowed down and sometimes the breath will just be knocked out of you. But if you carry with you the values and beliefs that you can make a difference in your own life, first and foremost², and then in the lives of others. You can get back up, you can keep going.

　　但这个并不意味着一旦做了决定你就一定能取得成功。事实并非如此。成功路上难免挫折，也会有沮丧与失望。你们会放慢脚步，甚至会感到窒息。但是，如果你们坚持自己的价值观和信仰，那么首先你们可以使自己的生活有所改观，同时也可以改变别人的生活。你们可以振作起来，也可以勇往直前。

　　But it is also important, as I have found, not to take yourself too seriously, because after all, every one of us here today, none of us is deserving of full credit. I think every day of the blessings³ my birth gave me without any doing of my own. I chose neither my family nor my country, but they as much as anything I've ever done, determined⁴ my course.

　　但是我发现，同样重要的是，不要把自己太当一回事，因为毕竟我们今天在座的所有人中没有一个人是十全十美的。我在想每天生命赋予我多少祝福，我却没有主动去祝福别人。我既没有选择我的家庭也没有选择我的祖国，但是它们如同我所做过事情一样决定着我的人生。

　　You compare my or your circumstances with those of the majority of people who've ever lived or who are living right now, they too often are born knowing too well what their futures⁵ will be.

　　将我的或你们的生活境况与前人或现在的人的生活进行比较，你们会发现，这些人通常一出生就知道自己的未来会是怎样。

　　名人简介

　　随着克林顿1993年入住白宫，希拉里成为美国历史上学位最高的第一夫人。在8年白宫生涯中，希拉里积极参与政事，负责国家医疗保健改革，还推动国会通过国家儿童健康保险项目等。

　　2000年2月，尚未离开白宫的希拉里宣布竞选纽约州参议员，成为美国历史上第一位谋求公职的第一夫人。同年11月7日，她当选为国会参议员。2006年，她获得连任。2008年12月1日，美国总统当选人奥巴马提名希拉里出任美国国务卿。

1 characterized   

adj.[医]具有特征的v.是…的特征( characterize的过去式和过去分词 )；以…为特征；描述（人或物）的特性；使…具有特点（或最引人注目的特征）

参考例句：

• Mozart's music is characterized by its naivety and clarity. 莫扎特的音乐特色是纯朴兴清澈。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The world situation is characterized by turbulence and intranquility. 世界局势动荡不安。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 foremost   

adj.最初的，最前的，第一流的；adv.在最前

参考例句：

• He is considered the foremost British artist of this century.他被认为是本世纪英国第一流的艺术家。
• The premier occupies the foremost place in the world of politics.首相是政界的首要人物。

3 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。