Inaugural Address -- John Fitzgerald Kennedy

20 January 1961 • East Portico of the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

1961 年 1 月 20 日 • 美国国会大厦东门廊，华盛顿特区

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens:

约翰逊副总统、议长先生、首席大法官先生、艾森豪威尔总统、尼克松副总统、杜鲁门总统、尊敬的神职人员、同胞们：

We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal, as well as change.

今天我们看到的不是政党的胜利，而是对自由的庆祝——象征着结束，也象征着开始——意味着更新和变革。

For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

因为我在你们和全能的上帝面前宣誓了我们的祖先在近一个又四分之三个世纪前所立下的同样庄严的誓言。

The world is very different now.

现在的世界已经大不一样了。

For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.

因为人类手中掌握着消除一切形式的人类贫困和一切形式的人类生活的权力。

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.

然而，我们的祖先为之奋斗的革命信念在全球范围内仍然存在争议——即相信人权不是来自国家的慷慨，而是来自上帝之手。

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution.

今天我们不敢忘记，我们是第一次革命的继承者。

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 heritage, 1 and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing 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.

让这个消息从此时此地向朋友和敌人传递，火炬已经传递给了新一代的美国人——出生在本世纪，经过战争的磨炼，受到艰难而痛苦的和平的训练，为我们古老的遗产感到自豪，1并且不愿意目睹或允许这个国家一直致力于的人权被缓慢地破坏，这些人权是我们今天在国内和世界各地所承诺的。

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 foe, 2 to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

让每个国家都知道，无论它希望我们好还是坏，我们将付出任何代价，承担任何负担，应对任何困难，支持任何朋友，反对任何敌人，2以确保自由的生存和成功。

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends.

对于那些我们有着共同文化和精神根源的老盟友，我们宣誓忠实朋友的忠诚。

United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures.

团结起来，我们在众多合作企业中无所不能。

Divided there is little we can do 3 -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

分裂时我们无能为力 3——因为我们不敢在意见不合和分裂的情况下迎接强大的挑战。

To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny.

对于那些我们欢迎加入自由行列的新国家，我们保证，一种形式的殖民控制不会仅仅被一种更加铁腕的暴政所取代。

We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view.

我们并不总是期望他们支持我们的观点。

But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom -- and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

但我们永远希望看到他们强烈支持自己的自由——并记住，在过去，那些愚蠢地骑在虎背上寻求权力的人最终都落入虎口。

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required -- not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right.

对于那些生活在半个地球的小屋和村庄里、努力挣脱大规模苦难束缚的人们，我们承诺，无论需要什么时间，我们都会尽最大努力帮助他们自助——不是因为共产党可能会这么做，也不是因为我们寻求他们的选票，而是因为这是正确的。

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

如果一个自由社会不能帮助许多穷人，它就不能拯救少数富人。

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To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge: to convert our good words into good deeds, in a new alliance for progress, to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty.

对于我们边境以南的姐妹共和国，我们做出特别的承诺：将我们的善言化为善行，结成新的进步联盟，协助自由人和自由政府摆脱贫困的枷锁。

But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers.

但这场希望的和平革命不能成为敌对势力的猎物。

Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas.

让我们所有的邻国知道，我们将与他们一起反对美洲任何地方的侵略或颠覆。

And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

并让所有其他势力知道，这个半球打算继续成为自己家族的主人。

To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support -- to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective, to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak, and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.

对于这个由主权国家组成的世界大会，联合国是我们在战争手段远远超过和平手段的时代最后最好的希望，我们重申我们的支持承诺 -- -- 防止它仅仅成为一个谩骂的论坛，加强它对新强者和弱者的保护，并扩大它的令状可以运行的范围。

Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.

最后，对于那些愿意与我们为敌的国家，我们提供的不是承诺，而是请求：在科学释放的黑暗破坏力量有计划或意外地自我毁灭之前，双方重新开始寻求和平。

We dare not tempt them with weakness.

我们不敢以软弱来诱惑他们。

For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

因为只有当我们的武器毫无疑问足够时，我们才能毫无疑问地确定它们永远不会被使用。

But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course -- both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

但两个伟大而强大的国家集团也不能从我们目前的进程中得到安慰——双方都因现代武器的成本而不堪重负，双方都对致命原子的不断扩散感到震惊，但双方都在竞相改变人类最后战争的不确定的恐怖平衡。

So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof.

因此，让我们重新开始——双方都要记住，文明并不是软弱的表现，而真诚总是需要检验的。

Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.

让我们永远不要因为恐惧而谈判，但也让我们永远不要害怕谈判。

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Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

让双方探讨哪些问题使我们团结起来，而不是纠缠那些使我们分裂的问题。

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms, and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

让双方首次就军备检查和控制制定严肃而精确的方案，将毁灭其他国家的绝对权力置于所有国家的绝对控制之下。

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors.

让双方都寻求唤起科学的奇迹而不是它的恐怖。

Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.

让我们一起探索星空、征服沙漠、根除疾病、探索海洋深处、鼓励艺术和商业。

Let both sides unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, the command of Isaiah -- to "undo the heavy burdens, and [to] let the oppressed go free." 6

让双方在世界各个角落团结起来，听从以赛亚的命令——“卸下沉重的负担，让受压迫的人获得自由”。 6

And, if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor -- not a new balance of power, but a new world of law -- where the strong are just, and the weak secure, and the peace preserved.

而且，如果合作的滩头阵地可以击退猜疑丛林，那就让双方共同创造一种新的努力——不是新的权力平衡，而是一个新的法治世界——在这个世界里，强者正义，弱者安全，和平得到维护。

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All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days.

这一切都不会在前一百天内完成。

Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days; nor in the life of this Administration; nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet.

前一千天内也不会完成；也不在本届政府的任期内；甚至也许在我们在这个星球上的一生中也不可能。

But let us begin.

但让我们开始吧。

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.

我们进程的最终成功或失败将取决于你们的手中，我的同胞们，而不是我自己。

Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty.

自这个国家成立以来，每一代美国人都被召唤来证明其国家忠诚。

The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

响应号召参军的美国年轻人的坟墓遍布全球。

Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation," 8 a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

现在，号角再次召唤我们——不是号召我们拿起武器，尽管我们需要武器——不是号召我们去战斗，尽管我们四面楚歌——而是号召我们年复一年地承担长期的黄昏斗争的重担，“在希望中欢欣鼓舞，在苦难中忍耐”8，与人类共同的敌人：暴政、贫困、疾病和战争本身作斗争。

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind?

我们能否与这些敌人建立一个宏伟的全球联盟，南北、东方和西方，以确保全人类过上更加富裕的生活？

Will you join in that historic effort?

你会加入这一历史性的努力吗？

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger.

在世界漫长的历史中，只有几代人在最危险的时刻担负起捍卫自由的职责。

I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it.

我不会回避这个责任——我欢迎它。

I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation.

我不相信我们任何人会与任何其他人或任何其他一代人交换位置。

The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it.

我们为这一努力所付出的精力、信念和奉献将照亮我们的国家和所有为之服务的人。

And the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

那火焰发出的光芒可以真正照亮世界。

And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

因此，我的美国同胞们，不要问你的国家能为你做什么，而要问你的国家能为你做什么。问问你能为你的国家做些什么。

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My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

我的世界公民同胞们，不要问美国将为你们做什么，而要问我们可以一起为人类的自由做些什么。

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.

最后，无论你们是美国公民还是世界公民，请在这里向我们要求与我们要求你们同样高标准的力量和牺牲。

With a good conscience 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.

凭着无愧的良心，我们唯一可靠的奖赏，历史对我们行为的最终审判者，让我们前去领导我们所爱的土地，祈求他的祝福和帮助，但要知道，上帝在地球上的工作必须真正是我们自己的。