肯尼迪總統就職演講中英版

2024年2月15日發(作者：元旦詩歌)

Inaugural Address

(January 20, 1961)

John F. Kennedy

1 We obrve 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. For I have sworn before you and

Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters

ago.

我們今天舉行的不是一個政黨的祝捷大會，而是一次自由的慶典。這是一個承先啟后、繼往開來的大事件。因為剛才我已依照我們的先輩在將近一又四分之三個世紀以前擬好的誓言在諸位和全能的上帝面前莊嚴宣誓。

2 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 belief for

which our forebears fought is 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.

當今的世界已與往昔大不相同了。人類手中已掌握的力量，既足以消除一切形式的人類貧困，也足以結束一切形式的人類生活。然而，我們的先輩曾為之奮斗的革命信念至今仍未能為舉世所公認。這信念就是認定人權出自上帝所賜而非得自政府的恩典。

3 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 pasd 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, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of the human rights to

which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and

around the world.

我們今天仍未敢忘記我們是第一次革命戰爭的接班人。此時此地我謹向我們的朋友，同時也向我們的敵人宣告：火炬已傳到我們新一代美國人手中。這一代人在本世紀成長起來，

經受過戰火的鍛煉，經歷過冷峻的和平的考驗，以珍視古老的傳統而自豪，又決不愿坐視或容許人權逐漸遭到踐踏。美國對這些人權一向負有責任，今天我們也正在本國及全世界范圍內為之奮斗。

4 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, oppo any foe to assure the survival and the success

of liberty.

必須讓每一個友邦和敵國都知道：為維護自由，使其長存不滅，我們將會不惜付出任何代價，肩負任何重擔，迎戰一切困難，援助一切朋友，反擊一切敵人。

5 This much we pledge--and more.

以上這些是我們保證要做到的--但我們保證要做到的還不止這些。

6 To tho old allies who cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of

faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures. Divided, there

is little we can do, for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

對于那些與我們有著共同的文化和精神淵源的傳統盟邦，我們保證將報之以真誠不渝的友誼。只要我們團結起來，我們在許多合作性事業中就會無往而不勝；而一旦彼此分裂，我們就會無所作為。因為我們之間若起爭端，彼此離異，便難以與我們面臨的強大對手抗衡。

7 To tho new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one

form of colonial control shall not have pasd away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny.

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

strongly supporting their own freedom, and to remember that, in the past, tho who foolishly

sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

對于那些我們歡迎其加入自由國家行列的各新興國家，淺們發誓，一種形式的殖民統治的

結束絕不應僅是為了被另一種遠為殘酷的暴政所取代。我們并不期望這些國家總是支持我們的觀點，但我們希望他們始終能夠堅決地衛護自己的自由，并時刻牢記，過去那些企圖騎上虎背為自己壯聲勢的愚人結果都沒能逃脫葬身虎腹的命運。

8 To tho peoples in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of

mass miry, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themlves, for whatever period is

required, not becau the Communists may be doing it, not becau we ek their votes, but becau

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

對于那些居住在遍布半個地球的茅舍荒村中，正奮力沖破集體貧困的桎梏的各民族，我們保證將盡最大努力幫助他們脫貧自救，不管這樣做需要多長時間。這樣做并不是因為怕共產黨會搶先這樣做，也不是因為我們想獲得那些國家的贊成票，而是因為這樣做是正確的。一個自由社會如若不能幫助眾多的窮人，也就無法保全少數的富人。

9 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. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of

hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppo aggression or

subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends

to remain the master of its own hou.

對于我國邊界以南的各姊妹國家，我們要作一項特別的保證：把我們美妙的言辭付諸行動，為謀求進步而進行新的合作。幫助自由的人民和自由的國家政府掙脫貧困的鎖鏈。但我們絕不能讓這個充滿希望的和平革命成為敵對國家的犧牲品。要讓所有的鄰邦都知道，我們將和他們一起反對外國在美洲任何地區進行的侵略或顛覆。也要讓所有別的國家知道，我們這個半球仍得由自己當家做主。

10 To that world asmbly 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.

在一個戰爭因素遠遠超過和平因素的時代，對于我們唯一的最好的希望賴以寄托的世界主權國家的聯盟組織一一聯合國，我們重申對它給予支持的保證：阻止其成為一個僅供謾罵的講壇，加強其對新興國家及弱小國家的保護作用，并擴大其職能范圍。

11 Finally, to tho nations who would make themlves 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 lf-destruction.

最后，對于那些不惜與我們為敵的國家，我們要提出的不是保證而是呼吁：希望雙方重新開始努力尋求和平，不要等到科學所釋放出來的可怕的破壞力將整個人類推向有計劃的或偶然發生的自我毀滅之時。

12 We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond

doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

我們不敢以示弱去誘惑他們。因為只有當我們有了無可置疑的足夠的武力時，我們才能有無可置疑的把握避免使用武力。

13 But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our prent

cour--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.

然而，目前的局勢使兩大國家集團都感到不安--雙方都因現代軍備的龐大開支而感到不堪重負，雙方都為極端危險的原子武器的不斷擴散而理所當然地感到驚慌不安，但雙方又都在競相謀求改變那種使雙方都不敢輕易發動導致全人類毀滅的最后決戰的小穩定的恐怖均勢。

14 So let us begin anew, remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and

sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to

negotiate.

因此，讓我們重新開始，雙方都記住：禮讓并不表示軟弱，而誠意則永遠需要驗證。我們決不能因為懼怕而談判，但我們也決不要懼怕談判。

15 Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring tho problems which

divide us.

讓雙方尋求彼此的共同利益所在，而不要在引起分歧的問題上徒費精力。

16 Let both sides, for the first time, formulate rious and preci proposals for the inspection

and control of arms and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control

of all nations.

讓雙方進行首次談判，對監督和控制軍備制訂出嚴格可行的計劃?并且把足以毀滅其他國家的絕對力量置于世界各國的絕對管制之下。

17 Let both sides ek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us

explore the stars, conquer the derts, eradicate dia, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts

and commerce.

讓雙方致力于揭開科學的奧秘，而不是科學的恐怖。讓我們共同努力去探測星空，征服沙漠，消除疾病，開發洋底，并促進藝術和貿易的發展。

18 Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah to "undo the

(and) let the oppresd go free".

讓雙方一起在世界各個角落聽取以賽亞的指示，去"卸下沉重的負擔……(并)讓被壓迫者獲得自由"。

19 And if a beachhead of co-operation 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 cure and the peace prerved.

如果初次的合作能夠減少彼此之間的疑慮的話，那就讓我們雙方進而開始新的合作吧，不是尋求新的力量均衡，而是建立一個有法制的新世界，使強者公正，弱者安全，和平得以維持。

20 All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. 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. But let us begin.

所有這一切不會在第一個一百天內完成，也不會在第一個一千天內完成，不會在本屆政府任期內完成，甚至也許不會在我們這一輩子完成。但我們要讓它從我們手上開始。

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

our cour. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to

give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to

rvice surround the globe.

同胞們，我們事業的成敗關鍵不僅僅是握在我的手中，更大一部分是握在你們手中。自從我國建立以來，每一代美國人都曾應召驗證自己對祖國的忠誠。應召服役的美國青年的墳墓已遍布全球。

22 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," a struggle against the common enemies of

man: tyranny, poverty, dia and war itlf.

如今那號角又在召喚我們了。它不是在號召我們扛起武器一一盡管我們也需要武器，不是在號召我們去參戰--盡管我們也準備應戰，而是在號召我們肩負起一場長期的艱苦斗爭的重任，年復一年，"忍受困苦，向往未來"，為反對人類共同的敵人--暴政、貧困、疾病以及戰爭本身--而斗爭。

23 Can we forge against the enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and

West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in the historic effort?

我們能否建立一個把東西南北聯在一起的偉大的全球聯盟來對付這些敵人，以確保人類享有更為富有成效的生活呢?你是否愿意參加這一具有歷史意義的行動呢?

24 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. I do not shrink from this responsibility; I

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

generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our

country and all who rve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

在世界漫長的歷史上，只有少數幾代人能在自由面臨極大危險的時刻被賦予保衛自由的任務。在這一重任面前，我不退縮，我歡迎這一重任。我認為我們中間不會有人愿意與別人或另一代人調換位置。我們從事這一事業的那種精力、信念和獻身精神將照耀我們的國家和一切為此出力的人們。這一火焰所發出的光芒將真正照亮這個世界。

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

do for your country.

因此，美國同胞們，你們應該問的不是你們的國家能為你們做些什么，而是你們自己能為你們的國家做些什么。

26 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.

和我處在同樣地位的世界各國的公民們，你們應該問的不是美國會為你們做些什么，而是我們一起能為人類自由做些什么。

27 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 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.

最后，無論你們是美國公民還是世界各國的公民，請以我們在此要求于你們的那種力量和犧牲的高標準反過來要求我們。良心是我們唯一可靠的報酬，歷史是我們所作所為的最后裁判。讓我們邁步向前，去領導我們所熱愛的國家吧，我們祈求上帝的保佑和幫助，但我們知道，上帝在人間的工作就是我們自己的工作。

就職演說(1961年1月20日)

約翰F肯尼迪

(from A Treasury of the World's Great Speeches, 1965)

(摘自《世界著名演說集錦》，1965)