名垂青史！1961年肯尼迪总统就职演讲：不要问你的国家能为你做些什么，而要问你能为国家做些什么（附视频&演讲稿）

英语演讲视频，第一时间观看

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country 一一 John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address

出身名门，哈佛毕业，战斗英雄，普列策奖获得者，美国最年轻的总统，也是第一位天主教的总统，外貌俊朗，风度翩翩，与明星梦露传过绯闻。拖着伤病折磨身体，在就职演说中用“不要问你的祖国能为你做些什么，要问一问你能为祖国能做些什么”名句激发了民众的希望。

在美国著名演说中，肯尼迪就职演说影响力仅次于林肯的《葛底斯堡演说》，位居第二，在历任美国总统就职演说中影响力排名第一。准备好了，看帅哥，练听力。

↓↓↓ 上下滑动，查看双语演讲稿 ↓↓↓

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

我们今天在这里，不是庆祝政党的胜利，而是共享自由的庆典――标志着一个结束，也是一个开始――彰显着更新，也彰显着改变。因为我在你们面前许下我们的祖先近175年前制定的相同的庄严誓言。

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.

当今的世界已经是今非昔比。因为人类的血肉之手掌握着消除人类一切贫困和生命的魔力。我们的祖先为之奋斗的革命理想还在全世界饱受争议――这个理想就是，人的权利不是来自国家的慷慨，而是来自上帝的恩赐。

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 heritage, 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.

我们不能忘记我们是第一次革命的继承人。让我们的豪言从此时此地飞向朋友和敌人，革命的火炬已经传到新一代美国人手上，他们生在本世纪，战火中百炼成钢，他们的精神在艰苦的和平中得到历练，他们以历史遗产为荣，不愿看到或允许这些人权被蚕食，这些人权是这个国家一直维护的，也是我们今天在我国以及全世界维护的。

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, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

让每个国家都知道，不管它希望我国好还是坏，我们愿意付出任何代价、承受任何负担、面对任何挑战、支持任何朋友、反对任何敌人，以保障自由的成功和存在。

This much we pledge -- and more.

这些就是我们的誓言――还有更多。

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do -- for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

对那些我们共享文化和精神根源的老盟友们，我们誓保对朋友的忠诚。联合，在无数的合作事业中我们就无所不能;分裂，我们几就无所能为――因为我们不敢在巨大的挑战面前各自为战。

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. 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, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

对那些我们欢迎进入自由世界之列的新兴国家，我们进一忠言，一种形式的殖民统治不可能因一种更残酷的专制的取代而终结。我们不指望他们永远支持我们的观点，但我们希望他们永远维护他们的自由――记住，那些狐假虎威谋求霸权者，最终葬身虎腹。

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

对那些生活在茅屋草堂里、正为打破噩运而奋斗的民族，我们甘愿尽最大努力，在任何需要的时候，帮助他们帮助他们自己，不是因为共产主义会这样做，不是为了获得他们的赞许，仅仅是因为这样正确，如果一个自由世界不能帮助多数穷人，那么它也无法维护少数富人。

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 oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

对我国南部的姐妹共和国，我们许下特别誓言：在新的进步联盟中，把我们的善言变成善行，帮助自由的人们和政府打破贫穷的枷锁。但是这个希望的和平革命不能成为敌对势力的鱼肉。让我们的所以邻国都知道，我们会和他们一道抵御对美洲任何地方的侵略和颠覆。也让任何其它国家知道这个半球要作自己的主人。

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.

对主权国家的世界大联盟――联合国，在这战争因素远远超过和平因素的年代我们最后希望，我们更新我们支持的宿愿――防止联合国变成谩骂的论坛，加强它对新兴国家和弱小国家的保护，并且扩大它的政令有效的区域。

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，对那些甘愿与我们为敌的国家，我们不是许下誓言，而是提出要求：我们双方都应该在科学释放的破坏力偶然地或蓄谋已久的自我毁灭危及人类之前更新对和平的追求。

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.

我们不敢用软弱来招惹它们。因为只有我们的武力无比强大了，我们才敢确保它们永无用武之地。

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.

但是我们两个伟大强盛的国家集团都不能从当前的路线中获得轻松――我们双方都背负着现代武器的负担，都被致命的核弹扩散搞得草木皆兵，然而双方还在争相改变人类终极一战的恐怖的不稳平衡。

So let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.

所以让我们重新开始――牢记对于我们双方，文明不是软弱的象征，真诚永远接受检验。我们不要因为害怕而谈判，但我们不要害怕谈判。

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

让我们寻找统一我们的问题，而不是那些分裂我们的问题。

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.

让我们双方，迈出第一步，提出严肃而正确的建议来监督和控制武库，把毁灭他过的终极武器置于所有国家的绝对监督之下。

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.

让我们双方追求唤起科学的奇迹而不是它的恐怖。让我们共同探索太空、征服沙漠、消除疾病、开发海洋并且鼓励商业和艺术。

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."?

让我们在世界各个角落共同聆听ISAIAH的训令――“卸下重荷，让被压迫者自由”。

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.

如果合作的桥头堡可以击退怀疑的丛林，让我们双方共同创立一项新事业――不是新武力平衡，而是一个新法制世界――那里强者公正、弱者平安、和平持久。转

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.

所有这一切不会在头100天内实现，也不会在头1000天内实现，也不会在本届政府的任期内实现，甚至可能在人类从地球上消失时也不会实现。但是，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. 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 service surround the globe.

在你们手上，我的同胞们，不是在我手上，掌控着我们事业的最终成败。自从这个国家诞生，历代美国人都应召证明自己对国家的忠诚。应召从军的美国青年的墓地遍及世界。

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, disease, and war itself.

现在号角再次召唤我们，不是召唤我们拿枪，尽管我们需要枪――不是召唤我们投入战斗，尽管我们已经卷入战争――而是召唤我们挑起黎明前漫长黑暗中斗争的重担，年复一年，“在希望中欣喜，在逆境中耐心，”这个斗争反对人类的共同敌人：专制、贫穷、疾病和战争本身。

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? Will you join in that historic effort?

我们能否打造一个应对这些共同敌人的全球大联盟，遍及东西南北，一个保证人类更美好生活的联盟?你们愿意参加这个历史性壮举吗?

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

在漫长的世界历史长河中，只有少数几代人获得在自由最危险的时刻保卫它的殊荣。我不会回避责任――我欢迎它。我不相信我们中有任何人企图与其他人或其他代人换位。我们投入这项事业的精力、信仰和奉献将照亮我们国家及所有效忠她的人们。这项事业的光辉也必将照亮整个世界。

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

所以，我的美国同胞们，不要问你们的国家能为你们做什么，问一问你们能为你们的国家做什么。

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.

我的世界同胞们，不要问美国将为你们做什么，问一问我们能共同为人类的自由做什么。

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. 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，无论你是美国公民还是世界公民，要求我们在此的每个人与我们要求你们相同的高标准的力量和牺牲。带着良知――我们唯一的回报，历史――我们的做为的最终评委，让我们前行，生活在我们深爱的土地上，祈求她的祝福和帮助，但是要记住，上帝的工作只能由我们来做。

肯尼迪于1961年1月20日正式宣誓就任美国第三十五任总统，他在就职演说中对国际事物给予了极大关注。他呼吁美国民众承担起更多的义务，做出更大的牺牲。肯尼迪的就职演说与富兰克林•德拉诺•罗斯福的第一次就职演说被并称为20世纪最令人难忘的两次美国总统就职演说，共计1355个单词的演说成为激励型语言和呼吁公民义务的典范之作。

想第一时间接收英文演讲视频？把“精彩英文演讲”设置为星标就对了！操作办法就是：进入公众号——点击右上角的●●●——找到“设为星标”点击即可。