InauguralAddressWeobservetodaynotavictoryofparty,butacelebrationoffreedom—symbolizinganend,aswellasabeginning—signifyingrenewal,aswellaschange.ForIhaveswornbeforeyouandAlmightyGodthesamesolemnoathourforebearsprescribednearlyacenturyandthree-quartersago.我们今天庆祝的并不是一次政党的胜利,而是一次自由的庆典;它象征着结束,也象征着开始;意味着更新,也意味着变革。因为我已在你们和全能的上帝面前,作了跟我们祖先将近一又四分之三世纪以前所拟定的相同的庄严誓言。Theworldisverydifferentnow.Formanholdsinhismortalhandsthepowertoabolishallformsofhumanpovertyandallformsofhumanlife.Andyetthesamerevolutionarybeliefsforwhichourforebearsfoughtarestillatissuearoundtheglobe—thebeliefthattherightsofmancomenotfromthegenerosityofthestate,butfromthehandofGod.现今世界已经很不同了,因为人在自己血肉之躯的手中握有足以消灭一切形式的人类贫困和一切形式的人类生命的力量。可是我们祖先奋斗不息所维护的革命信念,在世界各地仍处于争论之中。那信念就是注定人权并非来自政府的慷慨施与,而是上帝所赐。Wedarenotforgettodaythatwearetheheirsofthatfirstrevolution.Letthewordgoforthfromthistimeandplace,tofriendandfoealike,thatthetorchhasbeenpassedtoanewgenerationofAmericans—borninthiscentury,temperedbywar,disciplinedbyahardandbitterpeace,proudofourancientheritage,andunwillingtowitnessorpermittheslowundoingofthosehumanrightstowhichthisnationhasalwaysbeencommitted,andtowhichwearecommittedtodayathomeandaroundtheworld.我们今天不敢忘记我们是那第一次革命的继承人,让我从此时此地告诉我们的朋友,并且也告诉我们的敌人,这支火炬已传交新一代的美国人,他们出生在本世纪,经历过战争的锻炼,受过严酷而艰苦的和平的熏陶,以我们的古代传统自豪,而且不愿目睹或容许人权逐步被褫夺。对于这些人权我国一向坚贞不移,当前在国内和全世界我们也是对此力加维护的。Leteverynationknow,whetheritwishesuswellorill,thatweshallpayanyprice,bearanyburden,meetanyhardship,supportanyfriend,opposeanyfoe,toassurethesurvivalandthesuccessofliberty.让每一个国家知道,不管它盼我们好或盼我们坏,我们将付出任何代价,忍受任何重负,应付任何艰辛,支持任何朋友,反对任何敌人,以确保自由的存在与实现。Thismuchwepledge—andmore.这是我们矢志不移的事–而且还不止此。Tothoseoldallieswhoseculturalandspiritualoriginsweshare,wepledgetheloyaltyoffaithfulfriends.Unitedthereislittlewecannotdoinahostofcooperativeventures.Dividedthereislittlewecando—forwedarenotmeetapowerfulchallengeatoddsandsplitasunder.对于那些和我们拥有共同文化和精神传统的老盟邦,我们保证以挚友之诚相待。只要团结,则在许多合作事业中几乎没有什么是办不到的。倘若分裂,我们则无可作为,因为我们在意见分歧、各行其是的情况下,是不敢应付强大挑战的。Tothosenewstateswhomwewelcometotheranksofthefree,wepledgeourwordthatoneformofcolonialcontrolshallnothavepassedawaymerelytobereplacedbyafarmoreirontyranny.Weshallnotalwaysexpecttofindthemsupportingourview.Butweshallalwayshopetofindthemstronglysupportingtheirownfreedom—andtorememberthat,inthepast,thosewhofoolishlysoughtpowerbyridingthebackofthetigerendedupinside.对于那些我们欢迎其参与自由国家行列的新国家,我们要提出保证,绝不让一种形成的殖民统治消失后,却代之以另一种远为残酷的暴政。我们不能老是期望他们会支持我们的观点,但我们却一直希望他们能坚决维护他们自身的自由,并应记取,在过去,那些愚蠢得要骑在虎背上以壮声势的人,结果却被虎所吞噬。Tothosepeopleinthehutsandvillagesofhalftheglobestrugglingtobreakthebondsofmassmisery,wepledgeourbesteffortstohelpthemhelpthemselves,forwhateverperiodisrequired—notbecausetheCommunistsmaybedoingit,notbecauseweseektheirvotes,butbecauseitisright.Ifafreesocietycannothelpthemanywhoarepoor,itcannotsavethefewwhoarerich.对于那些住在布满半个地球的茅舍和乡村中、力求打破普遍贫困的桎梏的人们,我们保证尽最大努力助其自救,不管需要多长时间。这并非因为共产党会那样做,也不是由于我们要求他们的选票,而是由于那样做是正确的。自由社会若不能帮助众多的穷人,也就不能保全那少数的富人。Tooursisterrepublicssouthofourborder,weofferaspecialpledge:toconvertourgoodwordsintogooddeeds,inanewallianceforprogress,toassistfreemenandfreegovernmentsincastingoffthechainsofpoverty.Butthispeacefulrevolutionofhopecannotbecomethepreyofhostilepowers.LetallourneighborsknowthatweshalljoinwiththemtoopposeaggressionorsubversionanywhereintheAmericas.Andleteveryotherpowerknowthatthishemisphereintendstoremainthemasterofitsownhouse.对于我国边界以内的各姐妹共和国,我们提出一项特殊的保证:要把我们的美好诺言化作善行,在争取进步的新联盟中援助自由人和自由政府来摆脱贫困的枷锁。但这种为实现本身愿望而进行的和平革命不应成为不怀好意的国家的俎上肉。让我们所有的邻邦都知道,我们将与他们联合抵御对美洲任何地区的侵略或颠覆。让其它国家都知道,西半球的事西半球自己会管。Tothatworldassemblyofsovereignstates,theUnitedNations,ourlastbesthopeinanagewheretheinstrumentsofwarhavefaroutpacedtheinstrumentsofpeace,werenewourpledgeofsupport—topreventitfrombecomingmerelyaforumforinvective,tostrengthenitsshieldofthenewandtheweak,andtoenlargetheareainwhichitswritmayrun.至于联合国这个各主权国家的世界性议会,在今天这个战争工具的发展速度超过和平工具的时代中,它是我们最后的、最美好的希望。我们愿重申我们的支持诺言;不让它变成仅供谩骂的讲坛,加强其对于新国弱国的保护,并扩大其权力所能运用的领域。Finally,tothosenationswhowouldmakethemselvesouradversary,weoffernotapledgebutarequest:thatbothsidesbeginanewthequestforpeace,beforethedarkpowersofdestructionunleashedbyscienceengulfallhumanityinplannedoraccidentalself-destruction.最后,对于那些与我们为敌的国家,我们所要提供的不是保证,而是要求:双方重新着手寻求和平,不要等到科学所释出的危险破坏力量在有意或无意中使全人类沦于自我毁灭。Wedarenottemptthemwithweakness.Foronlywhenourarmsaresufficientbeyonddoubtcanwebecertainbeyonddoubtthattheywillneverbeemployed.我们不敢以示弱去诱惑他们。因为只有当我们的武力无可置疑地壮大时,我们才能毫无疑问地确信永远不会使用武力。Butneithercantwogreatandpowerfulgroupsofnationstakecomfortfromourpresentcourse—bothsidesoverburdenedbythecostofmodernweapons,bothrightlyalarmedbythesteadyspreadofthedeadlyatom,yetbothracingtoalterthatuncertainbalanceofterrorthatstaysthehandofmankind’sfinalwar.可是这两个强有力的国家集团,谁也不能对当前的趋势放心–双方都因现代武器的代价而感到不胜负担,双方都对于致命的原子力量不断发展而产生应有的惊骇,可是双方都在竞谋改变那不稳定的恐怖均衡,而此种均衡却可以暂时阻止人类最后从事战争。Soletusbeginanew—rememberingonbothsidesthatcivilityisnotasignofweakness,andsincerityisalwayssubjecttoproof.Letusnevernegotiateoutoffear,butletusneverfeartonegotiate.因此让我们重新开始,双方都应记住,谦恭并非懦弱的征象,而诚意则永远须要验证。让我们永不因畏惧而谈判。但让我们永不要畏惧谈判。Letbothsidesexplorewhatpro