1961年肯尼迪就职演讲

2024年2月15日发(作者：雪妍)

1961年肯尼迪就职演讲

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Einhower, Vice President

Nixon, President Truman, Reverend Clergy, fellow citizens:

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.

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.

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 tho human rights to

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

around the world.

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.

This much we pledge -- and more.

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 cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we

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

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.

To tho people 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 oppresd go free."¹

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 cure, and the peace prerved.

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.

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.

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,"² a struggle against the common

enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, dia, and war itlf.

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 that historic effort?

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.

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

your country.

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.

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.

约翰．肯尼迪就职演讲词

约翰．肯尼迪文

朝气蓬勃的约翰．菲茨杰拉德．肯尼迪是美国口才最好的总统之一，他于一九六三年十一月三十三日在得克萨斯州达拉斯城被暗杀，事业悲惨以终。一九六一年一月二十日在就职演讲词中， 他呼吁以果断与牺牲的精神来应付当前的许多挑战。这一演讲词重新肯定了杰佛逊与威尔逊的第一任就职演讲词所立下的原则。

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。

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。

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。

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。

这是我们矢志不移的事－－而且还不止此。

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。

让双方探究能使我们团结在一起的是什么问题，而不要虚耗心力于使我们分裂的问题。

让双方首次制订有关视察和管制武器的真诚而确切的建议，并且把那足以毁灭其它国家的漫无限制的力量置于所有国家的绝对管制之下。

让双方都谋求激发科学的神奇力量而不是科学的恐怖因素。让我们联合起来去探索星球，治理沙漠，消除疾病，开发海洋深处，并鼓励艺术和商务。

让双方携手在世界各个角落遵循以赛亚的命令，去「卸下沉重的负担……(并)让被压迫者得自由。」

如果建立合作的滩头堡能够遏制重重猜疑，那么，让双方联合作一次新的努力吧，这不是追求新的权力均衡，而是建立一个新的法治世界，在那世界上强者公正，弱者安全，和平在握。

凡此种种不会在最初的一百天中完成，不会在最初的一千天中完成，不会在本政府任

期中完成，甚或也不能在我们活在地球上的毕生期间完成。但让我们开始。

同胞们，我们事业的最后成效，主要不是掌握在我手里，而是操在你们手中。自从我国建立以来，每一代的美国人都曾应召以验证其对国家的忠诚。响应此项召唤而服军役的美国青年人的坟墓遍布全球各处。

现在那号角又再度召唤我们－－不是号召我们肩起武器，虽然武器是我们所需要的；不是号召我们去作战，虽然我们准备应战；那是号召我们年复一年肩负起持久和胜败未分的斗争，「在希望中欢乐，在患难中忍耐」；这是一场对抗人类公敌－－暴政、贫困、疾病以及战争本身－－的斗争。

我们能否结成一个遍及东西南北的全球性伟大联盟来对付这些敌人，来确保全人类享有更为富裕的生活?你们是否愿意参与这历史性的努力?

在世界的悠久历史中，只有很少几个世代的人赋有这种在自由遭遇最大危机时保卫自由的任务。我决不在这责任之前退缩；我欢迎它。我不相信我们中间会有人愿意跟别人及别的世代交换地位。我们在这场努力中所献出的精力、信念与虔诚、将照亮我们的国家以及所有为国家服务的人，而从这一火焰所聚出的光辉必能照明全世界。

所以，同胞们：不要问你们的国家能为你们做些什么，而要问你们能为国家做些什么。

全世界的公民：不要问美国愿为你们做些什么，而应问我们在一起能为人类的自由做些什么。

最后，不管你是美国的公民或世界它国的公民，请将我们所要求于你们的有关力量与牺牲的高标准拿来要求我们。我们唯一可靠的报酬是问心无愧，我们行为的最后裁判者是历史，让我们向前引导我们所挚爱的国土，企求上帝的保佑与扶携，但我们知道，在这个世界上，上帝的任务肯定就是我们自己所应肩负的任务。