[名人演講] 八段不可不讀經典演講節選（二）

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of men. Finally whether you are citizens of America, or citizens of the world, ask of us here, the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience of our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth, God"s work must truly be our own.--By John F. Kennedy

　　譯文：

　　美國同胞們，不要問美國能為你們做些什麼，應該問你們能為美國貢獻些什麼。全世界的同胞們，不要問美國將為你做些什麼，應該問我們一同能為人類的自由做些什麼。最後，無論你是美國公民還是其他國家的同胞，你們應該要求我們獻出我們同樣要求於你們的高度的力量和犧牲。無愧於心是我們惟一可靠的獎賞，歷史是我們行動最終的裁判。這一切讓我們大步向前，去引領我們所熱愛的這片土地。我們祈求上帝的保佑和幫助，但我們很清楚，上帝在塵世的工作必定是我們自己的工作。

　　--[美]約翰·肯尼迪

Let me express my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror, which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves, which is essential to victory and I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days. In such a spirit on my part and on yours, we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things.--By Franklin D. Roosevelt

　　譯文：

　　讓我來表明我堅定的信念：我們不得不害怕的其實就是害怕本身--一種莫名奇妙的、喪失理智的、毫無根據的恐懼。它把人們轉退為進所需要的種種努力化為泡影。但凡在我國生活陰雲密布的時刻，坦率而有活力的領導都得到過人民的理解和支持，從而為勝利準備了不可缺少的必要條件。我相信，在目前危機的時刻，大家會再次給與同樣的支持。我和你們都要以這種精神來共同面對困難。感謝上帝，這些困難只是物質方面的。

　　--[美]弗蘭克林·羅斯福

In this symposium, better is it to only sit in silence. To express one"s feelings as the end draws near is too intimate a task. That I would mention only one thought that comes to me as a listener-in: the riders in a race do not stop short when they reach the goal, there is a little finishing canter before coming to a standstill, there is time to hear the kind voice of friends, and to say to oneself, the work is done. But just as one says that, the answer comes, the race is over, but the work never is done while the power to work remains. The canter that brings you to a standstill need not be only coming to rest; it cannot be while you still live. But to live is to function, that is all there is in living. So I end with a land from a Latin voice: death, death, clutches my ear, and says, live, I am coming.--By Oliver Wendell Holmes

　　譯文：

　　此刻，沉默是金。要在生命即將完結之時表達個人感受並非易事。但我只是想談談作為一名傾聽者的看法。騎士們並非一到終點就立刻止步。他們繼續緩步向前，傾聽朋友們的歡呼。他們雖然告訴自己行程已經結束了。正如人們所說結果出來了,比賽結束了。但只要動力仍在，人生之旅就尚未結束。終點之後的慢跑並非停止不前，因為活著便不能如此。活著就要有所作為，這才是生命的真諦。最後謹以一句古拉丁格言與各位共勉：死神不止，奮鬥不止。

　　--[美]奧利佛·文德爾·荷默斯

The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding American promise that everyone belongs, that everyone deserves a chance that no insignificant person was ever born. Americans are called to enact this promise in our lives and in our laws. And though our nation has sometimes halted, and sometimes delayed, we must follow no other course. Through much of the last century, America"s faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations. Our democratic faith is more than the creed of our country, it is the inborn hope of our humanity, an ideal we carry but do not own, a trust we bear and pass along. And even after nearly 225 years, we have a long way yet to travel. --By George W.Bush

　　譯文：

　　這些理想中最偉大的是正在慢慢實現的美國的承諾，這就是：每個人都有自身的價值，每個人都有成功的機會，每個人天生都會有所作為的。美國人民肩負著一種使命，那就是要竭力將這個諾言變成生活中和法律上的現實。雖然我們的國家過去在追求實現這個承諾的途中停滯不前甚至倒退，但我們仍將堅定不移地完成這一使命。在上個世紀的大部分時間裡，美國自由民主的信念猶如洶湧大海中的岩石。現在它更像風中的種子，把自由帶給每個民族。在我們的國家，民主不僅僅是一種信念，而是全人類的希望；民主，我們不會獨佔，而會竭力讓大家分享；民主，我們將銘記於心並且不斷傳播。225年過去了，我們仍有很長的路要走。

　　--[美]喬治·布希

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