美国历任总统就职演说名句（一）

黄安年文  黄安年的博客/2009年1月24日发布

在美国44任、56届总统的就职演说中,留下了不少传诵后世的名篇。其中某些经典名言更是扬名天下,不过这些句子的真实含义我们需要联系当时的大背景和演说的全文来解读,现在将它作为语录抽出来欣赏则是另外一个视觉了。

如果仔细研读就职演说的名句，按照分类编个《美国总统就职演说语录》对于美国人和政客们恐怕都是有用的,因为今天的美国总统早已经把当年先哲们的某些教诲放到脑后了，他们也要与时俱进的。

今天人们往往把在美国历史上流芳百世的几位总统的演说词的经典话语拿来宣扬，本文则是从每位总统的就职演说中引出话语来,从中看出,其实每位总统的就职演说词都不乏精彩之处。

下面是笔者在通读美国总统就职演说中摘录其中的部分名句与网友资源共享。老罗斯福以后的语录待牛年来到后再补上。

*我对我祖国的召唤，永远只能敬奉如仪。

　　I was summoned by my country ,whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love.

　　——乔治·华盛顿首任就职演说(1789.4.30)

*同胞们：我再度奉人民之召执行总统职务.只要适当时机一到,我将会尽力表现出我心中对这份殊荣及美利坚人民对我的信任所怀有的崇高的感受。宪法规定总统在执行公务之前,需先行宣誓就职。现在我在你们面前宣誓:在我执掌政府期间，若企图故意触犯法律,除承受宪法惩罚外,还接受在现在这个庄严的仪式中所有见证人的严厉谴责。

　Fellow Citizens:

　　I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.

　　Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.

　　——乔治·华盛顿连任就职演说(1789.4.30)

*像我们这样的政府,不论存在多久，都是全人类知识与道德普遍传播的证明。

The existence of such a government as ours for any length of time is a full proof of a general dissemination of knowledge and virtue throughout the whole body of the people.

　　——约翰·亚当斯首任就职演说(1797.3.4)

*当一个并非尽善尽奏的人从这个职位卸任时，很少能像就任时那样深浮众望。

I have learnt to expect that it will rarely fall to the lot of imperfect man to retire from this station with the reputation and the favor which bring him into it.

*让我们恢复社会的和谐与友爱，因为没有它们，自由甚至生活本身，就将成为枯燥而无味的事情。

Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things.

*与各国和平相处，加强商业往来，并保持真诚的友谊,但不与任何国家结盟。

Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.

　　——托马斯·杰斐逊首任就职演说(1801.3.4)

*在宝贵的新闻自由与败坏新闻道德之间，并无一条明确的界限。

No other definite line can be drawn between the inestimable liberty of the press and its demoralizing licentiousness.

　　——托马斯·杰斐逊连任就职演说(1805.3.4)

*如果世界还有公正可言，这些论断的真实性将不会受到怀疑，至少子孙后代对此会给予公正的评价。

　　If there be candor in the world, the truth of these assertions will not be questioned; posterity at least will do justice to them.

　　——詹姆斯·麦迪逊首任就职演说(1809.3.4)

*如果我们能继续坚持目前已完成的事业,而且坚定地走已经开辟的路,我们一定会胜利。

If we persevere in the career in which we have advanced so far and in the path already traced , we can not fail.

　　——詹姆斯·门罗首任就职演说(1817.3.4)

*在调解现存的或可能发生的争端和冲突时，应表现出一个强国所具有的宽容而不能以一个英雄民族所固有的感情用事。

In the adjustment of may differences that may exist or arise to exhibit the forbearance becoming a powerful nation rather the sensibility belonging to a gallant people.

　　——安德鲁·杰克逊首任就职演说(1829.3.4)

*人民不会抛弃一个坚守岗位、诚实尽力的公仆。

The kindness of a people who never yet deserted a public servant honestly laboring in their cause.

　　——马丁·范布伦首任就职演说(1837.3.4)

*真正的自由精神是奉献、坚定、勇敢、不妥协，但实行自由权利必须小心、温和、宽容。

The true spirit of liberty, although devoted, persevering, bold, and uncompromising in the principle , that secured is mild and tolerant and scrupulous as to the means it employs.

　　——威廉·哈里逊首任就职演说(1841.3.4)

*我们的制度可以稳固地把我们的领土拓展到所能及的范围。

Our system may be safely extended to the utmost bounds of our territorial limits.

　　——詹姆斯·波尔克首任就职演说(1845.3.4)

*这一职位虽然可满足一种极高的奢望,但它所赋予的责任却是可畏的。

The position which I have been called to fill, though sufficient to satisfy the loftiest ambition, is  surrounded by fearful resonsibilities.

　　——扎克里·泰勒首任就职演说(1849.3.4)

*虽然我们的历史有限,然而未来却是无穷的。

If your past is limited , your future is boundless

　　——富兰克林·皮尔斯首任就职演说(1853.3.4)

*我们必须以公正的态度对待所有国家,也要求它门以相同的态度对待我们。

We ought to do justice in a kindly spirit to all nations and require justice from them in return

　　——詹姆斯·布坎南首任就职演说(185.3.4)

　　从自然状态来说，我们是不可分的。我们不能相互分开，也不能在中间修筑道不可逾越的隔离墙。一对夫妻可以离婚，彼此不再见面，不再来往，但是我们国家的各个地区不能这样。它们仍得相互面对，并继续交往。

　　Physically speaking, we can not separate. We can not remove our respective sections from each other nor build an impassable wall between them. A husband and wife may be divorced and go out of the presence and beyond the reach of each other, but the different parts of our country can not do this. They can not but remain face to face , and intercourse , either amicable or hostile, must continue between them.

　　——亚伯拉罕·林肯（1861.3.4）

*我们对任何人也不怀恶意，我们对所有的人都宽大为怀，坚持正义；上帝既使我们认识正义，让我们继续努力向前，完成我们正在进行的事业；包扎起国家的创伤，关心那些为战争作出牺牲的人，关心他们的遗孀和孤儿——尽一切力量，以求在我们自己之间，以及我们和所有的国家之间实现并维护一个公正和持久的和平。

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the might, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

　　——亚伯拉罕·林肯（1865.3.4）

*我将公正地与其他各国友好相处，像平等地对待个人一样。

I Would deal with nations as equitable law requires individuals to deal with each other.

*我希望全国上下相互宽容，下定决心,为建立一个幸福联邦贡献自己的力量。

I ask patient forbearance one toward another throughout the land, and a determined effort on the part of every citizen to do his share toward cementing a happy union.

　　——尤利塞斯·辛普森·格兰特（1869.3.4）

*我们不论在文化上还是在军事上都占有绝对优势.因此，我们应该宽厚地对待印第安人。过去不善待他们是应好好考虑的,应取得他们的信任。

Our superiority of strength and advantages of civilization should make us lenient toward the Indian. The wrong inflicted upon him should be taken into account and the balance placed to his credit.

　　——尤利塞斯·辛普森·格兰特（1873.3.4）

*总统职位之争应本着友好、平和的原则予以调节,而且一旦这种调节、疏导的工作完成,全国上下就应该一致遵从。

Conflicting claims to the Presidency must be amicably and peaceably adjusted, and that when so adjusted the general acquiescence of the nation ought surely to fellow.

　　——拉什福德·伯查德·海斯（1877.3.5）

*问题悬而未决，万邦不得安宁

It has been said that unsettled questions have no pity for the repose of nations.

　　——詹姆斯·艾布拉姆·加菲尔德（1881.3.5）

*通过以身作则,当然也要不失官事活动之庄重,来引导同胞们采取一种有助于廉正,并促进节俭和繁荣的简朴的生活方式。

May do much by their example to encourage, consistently with the dignity of their official functions, that plain way of life which among their fellow-citizens aids integrity and promotes thrift and prosperity.

　　——格罗弗·克利夫兰（1885.3.4）

*我们还没有达到理想的境界。并非所有的人都幸福富足，也非所有的人都行善守法。

We have not attained and ideal condition . Not all of our people are happy and prosperous; not all of them are virtuous and law-abiding.

*我并不怀疑未来，在我们的道路上曾危机四伏，但我们已经发现并完全克服了它们。

I do not mistrust the future. Dangers have been in frequent ambush along our path, but we have uncovered and vanquished them all.

　　——本杰明·哈利森（1889.3.4）

*即使一个强壮的人,具有坚强的体魄,对生活有坚定而积极的追求,并敢于承受持久的劳动,也可能存在潜在的、不易发现的致命的疾病，从而使他突然倒下。

The strong man who in the confidence of sturdy health courts the sternest activities of life and rejoices in the hardihood of constant labor may still have lurking near his vitals the unheeded disease that dooms him to sudden collapse.

*如果对于我们的力量和资源不要太过于自信的话,会使,我们更明智。

We will be wise if we temper our confidence and faith in our national strength and resources with the frank concession.

*我们的任务不是惩罚，而是纠正错误.如果为了解除人民日常生活的负担,我们减少那些长期享有的、不正常的、不合理的待遇，这是基于正义和公正而采取的必要措施。

Our mission is not punishment, but the rectification of wrong. If in lifting burdens from the daily life of our people we reduce inordinate and unequal advantages too long enjoyed, this is but a necessary incident of our return to right and justice.

　　——格罗弗·克利夫兰（1893.3.4）

*我们应该同时具备“观念的正确”和“行动的稳健”。

We must be both “sure wee right” and “make haste slowly”.

*节约是政府个部门任何时候都应遵守的原则.在目前工商业萧条、民心沮丧之际，尤其要强调这一原则。

Economy is demanded in every branch of the Government at all times. But especially in periods, like the present, of depression in business and distress among the people.

*值此入不敷出之时，举债之风,实不可长。

It will suffice while it lasts, but it can not last long while the outlays of the Government are greater than its receipts.

*有利于生产者的立法，便是对全国有利的立法。

Legislation helpful to producers is beneficial to all.

　　——威廉·麦金莱（1897.3.4）

*诚实、才华和勤劳是公职人员最应具备的条件。

Honesty, capacity, and industry are nowhere more indispensable than in public employment.

*“怀有希望并不可耻”。预言厄运的人并不是共和国建造者。

“Hope make   not ashamed” The prophets of evil were not the builders of the Republic.

　　——威廉·麦金莱（1901.3.4）

*我们享受了很多的给予，因此也完全有理由被期望承受很多的付出。

Much has been given us, and much will rightfully be expected from us.

*不论是国家或个人,公正和宽厚都强者而不是弱者的表现。

But justice and generosity in a nation, as in individual, count most when shown not by the weak but the strong.

*我们希望和平，但这一和平必须是公正的和平，正义的。是因为我们认为那是正当的，而不是因为我们胆怯。

We wish peace, but we wish the peace of justice, the peace of righteousness. We wish it because we think it is right and not because we are afraid.

*我们不再遇到先辈们曾遇过的危险,但却正面临先辈们所未能预知的危险。

Our forefathers faced certain perils which we have outgrown. We now face other perils, the very existence of which it was impossible that they should foresee.

*我们没有理由惧怕未来，却有足够的理由严肃地面对未来。

There is not good reason why we should fear the future, but there is every reason why we should face it seriously.

　　——西奥多·罗斯福（1905.3.4）