George Washington 乔治·华盛顿 乔治·华盛顿是美国第一任总统，1789年上任。他在美国独立战争和建国方面担任了重要的角色，被称为国父。 Among the vicissitudes① incident to life no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order， and received on the 14th day of the present month. On the one hand， I was summoned by my Country， whose voice I can never hear but with veneration② and love， from a retreat which I had chosen with the fondest predilection③， and， in my flattering hopes， with an immutable④ decision， as the asylum⑤ of my declining years—a retreat which was rendered every day more necessary as well as more dear to me by the addition of habit to inclination， and of frequent interruptions in my health to the gradual waste committed on it by time. On the other hand， the magnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my country called me， being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most experienced of her citizens a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications， could not but overwhelm with despondence one who （inheriting inferior endowments from nature and unpracticed in the duties of civil administration） ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies. In this conflict of emotions all I dare aver is that it has been my faithful study to collect my duty from a just appreciation of every circumstance by which it might be affected. All I dare hope is that if， in executing this task， I have been too much swayed by a grateful remembrance of former instances， or by an affectionate sensibility to this transcendent proof of the confidence of my fellow-citizens， and have thence too little consulted my incapacity as well as disinclination for the weighty and untried cares before me， my error will be palliated⑥ by the motives which mislead me， and its consequences be judged by my country with some share of the partiality in which they originated. 在人生沉浮中，本月14日收到据你们的命令送达的通知是最让我感到不安的。一方面，我被国家召唤出任此职，对她的召唤，我永远都是怀着崇敬和热爱去倾听；而这次却是在我挚爱的并且希望能永远成为我隐退后颐养天年的住所。由于长期的习惯难以改变，且随着时光流逝，身体渐衰，寻找这样一处暮年的住所十分迫切。另一方面，国家召唤我承担如此重大和艰巨的责任，即使国内最有才智和最富经验的贤德之士都会因自感不足而审视自己是否有资格担此重任；更何况我天资愚钝，又无行政管理的经验，就更该认识到自己的能力缺陷，因而感到难以肩此重任。 怀着这种矛盾心情，我能保证的是，我会尽量正确评估每一种可能产生影响的因素，并恪尽职守。同时，我所祈望的是，如果我在履行职责过程中过于因循规蹈矩而影响了工作，或者因过度凭借大家对我的信心和热情去工作，而忽视了自己的能力不足，没有殚精竭虑去工作。那么希望我犯的错误能由于我的动机无误而减轻。大家在评判我的错误的后果时；也会适当包涵产生这些动机的偏见。 Bill Clinton（1） 比尔·克林顿（1） 比尔·克林顿是美国民主党成员，曾任阿肯色斯州州长，1993年出任总统。此篇语录摘自他1993年第一次担任总统时的就职演讲。他阐述了自己对于改革的见解，号召大家一起重振美国。 This ceremony is held in the depth of winter. But， by the words we speak and the faces we show the world， we force the spring. A spring reborn in the world’s oldest democracy， that brings forth① the vision and courage to reinvent America. When our founders boldly declared America’s independence to the world and our purposes to the Almighty， they knew that America， to endure， would have to change. Not change for change’s sake， but change to preserve America’s ideals； life， liberty， the pursuit of happiness. Though we march to the music of our time， our mission is timeless. Each generation of Americans must define② what it means to be an American. On behalf of our nation， I salute my predecessor， President Bush， for his half-century of service to America. Today， a generation raised in the shadows of the Cold War assumes new responsibilities in a world warmed by the sunshine of freedom but threatened still by ancient hatreds and new plagues. Raised in unrivaled prosperity， we inherit③ an economy that is still the world’s strongest， but is weakened by business failures， stagnant wages， increasing inequality， and deep divisions among our people. When George Washington first took the oath④ I have just sworn to uphold， news traveled slowly across the land by horseback and across the ocean by boat. Now， the sights and sounds of this ceremony are broadcast instantaneously⑤ to billions around the world. 这个仪式在隆冬时节举行，然而，我们在这里所说的和展示给世界的风貌，却促使春回大地，回到了这个世界上最古老的民主国家，并带来了远见和勇气让我们重振美国。 当我们的开国元勋勇敢地向世界宣布美国独立，并向上帝阐明自己的目的时，他们知道，美国若想永存，就必须变革。不是为变革而变革，而要维护美国的理想；为了我们生命、自由和追求幸福的权利而变革。虽然我们在跟着时代的节拍前进，但我们的使命是永恒的。作为一个美国人意味着什么？每一代人都要用自己的言行为它下定义。我代表国家，向我的前任布什总统致敬，感谢他半个世纪以来为美国所作的贡献。 今天，在冷战阴影下长大的一代人要肩负起新的责任。当今世界自由之光照耀大地，但仍受到新仇旧恨的威胁。 我们在无可匹敌的繁荣中长大，继承了如今仍然是世界上最强大的经济体。但由于商业失败，薪资停滞、不平等状况的加剧，人民分歧加深，使我们的经济遭到削弱。 当乔治·华盛顿第一次立下我刚才宣读的誓言时，消息是通过马背和船只传遍大地、漂洋过海的。而现在，我们这个仪式的情景和声音即刻就能向全世界几十亿人播放。 Bill Clinton（2） 比尔·克林顿（2） 在1996年的总统大选中，比尔·克林顿以绝对的优势击败了共和党竞选人鲍勃·多尔，成功连任。以下摘自他1997年连任总统时的就职演讲。演讲中，克林顿简单地总结了上一任期的工作成就，并坚定了大家在新世纪继续努力的信心。 Fellow citizens， let us build that America， a nation ever moving forward toward realizing the full potential of all its citizens. Prosperity and power， yes， they are important， and we must maintain them. But let us never forget： The greatest progress we have made， and the greatest progress we have yet to make， is in the human heart. In the end， all the world’s wealth and a thousand armies are no match for the strength and decency of the human spirit. Thirty-four years ago， the man whose life we celebrate today spoke to us down there， at the other end of this Mall， in words that moved the conscience① of a nation. Like a prophet② of old， he told of his dream that one day America would rise up and treat all its citizens as equals before the law and in the heart. Martin Luther King’s dream was the American Dream. His quest is our quest： the ceaseless striving to live out our true creed. Our history has been built on such dreams and labors③. And by our dreams and labors we will redeem④ the promise of America in the 21st century. The American people returned to office a President of one party and a Congress of another. Surely， they did not do this to advance the politics of petty bickering⑤ and extreme partisanship they plainly deplore⑥. No， they call on us instead to be repairers of the breach⑦， and to move on with America’s mission. 同胞们，让我们建设这样的美国，一个不断前进，并充分发挥全民潜力的国家。没错，保持繁荣强大很重要。但是，我们不能忘记：我们已取得的巨大成就，我们未来计划做出的成就，存在于人民心中。因为最终，即使全世界的财富和数千支陆军部队都无法与人类精神文明的力量相抗衡。 34年前，那个今天被我们歌颂的人，就在那边，在广场的另一端对我们演讲。他的话唤醒了国民的良知。他像是一个古老的预言家，诉说着他的梦想，那就是有一天美国终会站起来，使每个公民都能在法律面前和人们心中得到平等对待。马丁·路德·金的梦是美国之梦。他的追求就是我们的追求：即通过不懈努力实现我们生活的信条。我们的历史就建立在这样的梦想和努力上。通过我们的梦想和努力，我们要在21世纪重拾美国的希望。 美国人民把总统职务交给一个政党，又把国会交给另外一个政党。显然，他们这样做并不是为了增加党派之间的争吵、建立他们强烈反对的政治派系。相反，他们希望我们修复分歧，并推进完成美国的重大使命。 John Fitzgerald Kennedy 约翰·菲茨杰拉德·肯尼迪 约翰·菲茨杰拉德·肯尼迪来自于美国颇受关注的政治世家——肯尼迪家族。他于1961年1月20日正式宣誓就任美国第35任总统。其任期到1963年遇刺身亡结束。他的就职演讲被称为20世纪最令人难忘的美国总统就职演讲之一。 We observe today not a victory of party， but a celebration of freedom， symbolizing① an end， as well as a beginning； signifying renewal②， as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed③ nearly a century and three quarters ago. The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state， but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place， to friend and foe alike， that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century， tempered by war， disciplined by a hard and bitter peace， proud of our ancient heritage④—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing⑤ of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed， and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know， whether it wishes us well or ill， that we shall pay any price， bear any burden， meet any hardship， support any friend， oppose any foe⑥， in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. 我们今天不是庆祝政党的胜利，而是为自由而欢呼。这象征着一个结束，也象征着一个开端；意味着新的开始，也意味着变革。因为我已在你们和万能的上帝面前庄严宣誓，宣读了先辈在175年前拟定的神圣誓言。 现在的世界已经有很大不同。因为人们手中实实在在地掌握着足够的力量能消除一切形式的人类贫困和一切形式的人类生命。然而，与此相同，我们先辈为之奋斗的革命性理念，至今在全世界仍然有争议。这个理念就是人的权利并非来自于国家的慷慨施舍，而是上帝赐予的。 我们今天不敢忘记，我们是第一场革命的继承者。让我们的声音此时此刻从这里发出，传给我们的朋友和敌人——火炬已经传递给了新一代的美国人，这一代人受过战火的洗礼，历经战乱与和平，为悠久的传统感到自豪。他们不愿意看到，也不允许国家一向承诺的，并在国内外做出保证的人权被慢慢毁灭。 我们要告诉所有的国家，不论他们是敌是友，为了确保自由权的延续和胜利，我们愿意承担任何重担，面对任何困难，支持所有盟友，反对任何敌人，我们在所不惜。 Ronald Wilson Reagan（1） 罗纳德·威尔逊·里根（1） 罗纳德·威尔逊·里根于1980年竞选总统并获胜，担任第40届美国总统。在从政前，他曾在好莱坞做过电影演员。本篇语录摘自里根1981年宣誓就职时发表的就职演讲。1994年，里根因患老年痴呆症淡出政坛。 We must realize that no arsenal， or no weapon in the arsenals of the world， is so formidable① as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today’s world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have. Let that be understood by those who practice terrorism and prey upon their neighbors. I am told that tens of thousands of prayer meetings are being held on this day， and for that I am deeply grateful. We are a nation under God， and I believe God intended for us to be free. It would be fitting and good， I think， if on each Inauguration Day in future years it should be declared a day of prayer. This is the first time in history that this ceremony has been held， as you have been told， on this West Front of the Capitol②. Standing here， one faces a magnificent vista③， opening up on this city’s special beauty and history. At the end of this open mall are those shrines to the giants on whose shoulders we stand.Directly in front of me， the monument④ to a monumental man： George Washington， Father of our country. A man of humility who came to greatness reluctantly. He led America out of revolutionary victory into infant nationhood. Off to one side， the stately memorial to Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence flames with his eloquence. And then beyond the Reflecting Pool the dignified⑤ columns of the Lincoln Memorial. Whoever would understand in his heart the meaning of America will find it in the life of Abraham Lincoln. 我们必须认识到，世界上任何武器的威力，都比不上自由人们的意志和道德勇气的力量。这种强大的武器是我们目前在世界上的敌人所没有的。而我们美国人民却拥有这种武器。希望那些恐怖分子和侵犯邻国的人能意识到这一点。 我听说成千上万的人在今天进行祈祷，对此我深表感激。我们的国家受上帝的指引，我相信上帝希望我们自由。如果在未来几年里的每个就职日都能成为祈祷日，将是非常好的一件事。 今天的就职典礼在国会大厦西侧举行，这在历史上是首次。站在这里，我们面对着宏伟的景象，这个城市独特的美景和历史展现在眼前。在这个开阔大道的另一端是那些先辈伟人们的纪念堂。在我面前是一位不朽伟人的纪念碑——伟大而谦逊的乔治？华盛顿，我们的国父。他领导美国取得了革命胜利并创建了这个国家。在另一边是庄严的托马斯？杰斐逊纪念馆。独立宣言闪烁着他雄辩的智慧火焰。在倒影池旁边，可以看到林肯纪念堂宏伟的圆柱。凡是想彻底理解美国真谛的人都能在亚伯拉罕·林肯的一生中找到答案。 ……
展开
★爱因斯坦常常被称为一个孤独的人。数学想象的领域有助于把精神从纷繁的俗物中解脱出来，就这个意义而言，我认为他确实是一个孤独的人。他的哲学可以叫做一种超验的唯物论，这种哲学达到了形而上学的前沿，那里可以完全割断对自我世界的纠缠。