总统就职演说:美国3任总统托马斯·杰斐逊第一次就职演讲(2)

Let us,then,fellow citizens,unite with one heart and one mind.

因此,公民们,让我们同心同德地团结起来。

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

让我们在社会交往中和睦如初、恢复友爱,如果没有这些,自由,甚至生活本身都会索然寡味。

And let us reflect that,having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered,

让我们再想一想,我们已经将长期以来造成人类流血、受苦的宗教信仰上的不宽容现象逐出国土,

we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic,as wicked,and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions.

那么我们必将无所收获,如果我们鼓励某种政治上的不宽容,其专横,邪恶和可能造成的残酷、血腥迫害均与此相仿,

During the throes and convulsions of the ancient world,

当旧世界经历阵痛和骚动,

during the agonizing spasms of infuriated man,seeking through blood and slaughter his long lost liberty,

当愤怒的人挣扎着想通过流血、杀戮来寻求失去已久的自由,

it was not wonderful that the agitation of the billows should reach even this distant and peaceful shore;

那波涛般的激情,甚至也会冲击这片遥远而宁静的海岸;

that this should be more felt and feared by some and less by others,and should divide opinions as to measures of safety.

对此,人们的感触和忧虑不会一样,因而对安全措施的意见就出现了分歧,这些都不足为奇。

But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.

但是,各种意见分歧并不都是原则分歧。

We have called by different names brethren of the same principle.

我们以不同的名字呼唤同一原则的兄弟。

We are all Republicans,we are all Federalists.

我们都是共和党人,我们都是联邦党人。

If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form,

如果我们当中有人想解散这个联邦,或者想改变它的共和体制,

let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.

那就让他们不受干扰而作为对平安的纪念碑吧,因为有了平安,错误的意见就可得到宽容,理性就得以自由地与之抗争。

I know,indeed,that some honest men fear that a republican government can not be strong,that this Government is not strong enough;

诚然,我知道,有些正直人士担心共和制政府无法成为强有力的政府,担心我们这个政府不够坚强,

but would the honest patriot,in the full tide of successful experiment,

但是,在实验取得成功的高潮中,一个诚实的爱国者,

abandon a government which has so far kept us free and firm on the theoretic and visionary fear that this Government,

从理论上和梦想里放弃了这个迄今带给我们自由和坚定的政府吗

the world's best hope,may be possibility want energy to preserve itself?

就以为被这个世界寄予最大希望的政府可能需要力量才得以自存。

I believe it the only one where every man,at the call of the law,would fly to the standard of the law,

我相邻唯有在这种政府的治理下,每个人才会响应法律的号召,奔向法律的旗帜,

and would meet invasions of the public order as his own personal concern.

像对待切身利益那样,迎击侵犯公共秩序的举动。

Sometimes it is said that man can not be trusted with the government of himself.

有时我们听到一种说法:不能让人们自己管理自己。

Can be,then,be trusted with the government of others?

那么,能让他去管理别人吗?

Or have we found angels in the forms of kings to govern him?

或者,我们在统治人民的君王名单中发现了天使吗?

Let history answer this question.

这个问题让历史来回答吧。

托马斯·杰斐逊,美国政治家、思想家、教育家和科学家,第3任美国总统(1801~1809),民主共和党创始人。1743年4月13日生于弗吉尼亚的沙德威尔。


NSDA“SDcamps”全国英语演讲与辩论大赛(大学组)/SDcamps全国中小学生英语演讲与辩论大会(中小学及幼儿组)/美式辩论赛(以下简称大赛/大会)现诚招全国省市合作伙伴或城市合伙人,共同进行推广NSDA赛事品牌、举办赛事及培训活动、开展素质教育、美式营地项目等多方面合作。

我们希望认同NSDA理念,有赛事组织经验,或有教育资源,特别是有理想有热情的机构或个人一起携手,共同推广NSDA品牌、赛事及素质教育。以机构的形式,或以城市合伙人的方式均可。具体的赛事组织、盈利模式,欢迎电话或微信咨询。

微信:0012133598196

详情查看:NSDA(全美演讲与辩论联盟)赛事活动诚招全国各城市合作伙伴

发表回复

您的电子邮箱地址不会被公开。 必填项已用*标注

此站点使用Akismet来减少垃圾评论。了解我们如何处理您的评论数据