2001年1月20日
Chief Justice Rehnquist，President Carter，President Bush，President Clinton，distinguished guests and my fellow citizens：
尊敬的芮恩奎斯特大法官，卡特总统，布什总统，克林顿总统，尊敬的来宾们，我的同胞们：
The peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history，yet common in our country．With a simple oath，we affirm old traditions and make new beginnings．
这次权利的和平过渡在历史上是罕见的，但在美国是平常的。我们以朴素的宣誓庄严地维护了古老的传统，同时开始了新的历程。
As I begin，I thank President Clinton for his service to our nation；and I thank Vice President Gore for a contest conducted with spirit and ended with grace．
首先，我要感谢克林顿总统为这个国家作出的贡献，也感谢副总统戈尔在竞选过程中的热情与风度。
I am honored and humbled to stand here，where so many of Americas leaders have come before me，and so many will follow．
站在这里，我很荣幸，也有点受宠若惊。在我之前，许多美国领导人从这里起步；在我之后，也会有许多领导人从这里继续前进。
We have a place，all of us，in a long story．A story we continue，but whose end we will not see．It is the story of a new world that became a friend and liberator of the old，a story of a slave－holding society that became a servant of freedom，the story of a power that went into the world to protect but not possess，to defend but not to conquer．It is the American story．A story of flawed and fallible people，united across the generations by grand and enduring ideals．
在美国悠久的历史中，我们每个人都有自己的位置；我们还在继续推动着历史前进，但是我们不可能看到它的尽头。这是一部新世界的发展史，是一部后浪推前浪的历史。这是一部美国由奴隶制社会发展成为崇尚自由的社会的历史。这是一个强国保护而不是占有世界的历史，是捍卫而不是征服世界的历史。这就是美国史。它不是一部十全十美的民族发展史，但它是一部在伟大和永恒理想指导下几代人团结奋斗的历史。
The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding American promise that everyone belongs，that everyone deserves a chance，that no insignificant person was ever born．Americans are called upon to enact this promise in our lives and in our laws；and though our nation has sometimes halted，and sometimes delayed，we must follow no other course．
这些理想中最伟大的是正在慢慢实现的美国的承诺，这就是：每个人都有自身的价值，每个人都有成功的机会，每个人天生都会有所作为。美国人民肩负着一种使命，那就是要竭力将这个诺言变成生活中和法律上的现实。虽然我们的国家过去在追求实现这个承诺的途中曾停滞不前甚至倒退，但我们仍将坚定不移地完成这一使命。
Through much of the last century，Americas faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea．Now it is a seed upon the wind，taking root in many nations．Our democratic faith is more than the creed of our country，it is the inborn hope of our humanity，an ideal we carry but do not own，a trust we bear and pass along；and even after nearly 225years，we have a long way yet to travel．
在上个世纪的大部分时间里，美国自由民主的信念犹如汹涌大海中的岩石。现在它更像风中的种子，把自由带给每个民族。在我们的国家，民主不仅仅是一种信念，而是全人类的希望。民主，我们不会独占，而会竭力让大家分享。民主，我们将铭记于心并且不断传播。225年过去了，我们仍有很长的路要走。
While many of our citizens prosper，others doubt the promise，even the justice，of our own country．The ambitions of some Americans are limited by failing schools and hidden prejudice and the circumstances of their birth；and sometimes our differences run so deep，it seems we share a continent，but not a country．We do not accept this，and we will not allow it．Our unity，our union，is the serious work of leaders and citizens in every generation；and this is my solemn pledge，“I will work to build a single nation of justice and opportunity．”I know this is in our reach because we are guided by a power larger than ourselves who creates us equal in His image and we are confident in principles that unite and lead us onward．
有很多公民取得了成功，但也有人开始怀疑，怀疑我们自己的国家所许下的诺言，甚至怀疑它的公正。失败的教育、潜在的偏见和出身的环境限制了一些美国人的雄心。有时，我们的分歧是如此之深，似乎我们虽身处同一个大陆，但不属于同一个国家。我们不能接受这种分歧，也无法容许它的存在。我们的团结和统一，是每一代领导人和每一个公民的严肃使命。在此，我郑重宣誓：我将竭力建设一个公正、充满机会的统一国家。我知道这是我们的目标，因为上帝按自己的身形创造了我们，上帝高于一切的力量将引导我们前进。
America has never been united by blood or birth or soil．We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds，lift us above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens．Every child must be taught these principles．Every citizen must uphold them；and every immigrant，by embracing these ideals，makes our country more，not less，American．
对这些将我们团结起来并指引我们向前的原则，我们充满信心。血缘、出身或地域从未将美国联合起来。只有理想，才能使我们心系一处，超越自己，放弃个人利益，并逐步领会何谓公民。每个孩子都必须学习这些原则。每个公民都必须坚持这些原则。每个移民，只有接受这些原则，才能使我们的国家更具美国特色。
Today，we affirm a new commitment to live out our nations promise through civility，courage，compassion and character．America，at its best，matches a commitment to principle with a concern for civility．A civil society demands from each of us good will and respect，fair dealing and forgiveness．
今天，我们在这里重申一个新的信念，即通过发扬谦恭、勇气、同情心和个性的精神来实现我们国家的理想。美国在它最鼎盛时也没忘记遵循谦逊有礼的原则。一个文明的社会需要我们每个人品质优良，尊重他人，为人公平和宽宏大量。
Some seem to believe that our politics can afford to be petty because，in a time of peace，the stakes of our debates appear small．But the stakes for America are never small．If our country does not lead the cause of freedom，it will not be led．If we do not turn the hearts of children toward knowledge and character，we will lose their gifts and undermine their idealism．If we permit our economy to drift and decline，the vulnerable will suffer most．
有人认为我们的政治制度是如此的微不足道，因为在和平年代，我们所争论的话题都是无关紧要的。但是，对我们美国来说，我们所讨论的问题从来都不是什么小事。如果我们不领导和平事业，那么和平将无人来领导；如果我们不引导我们的孩子们真心地热爱知识、发挥个性，他们的天分将得不到发挥，理想将难以实现。如果我们不采取适当措施，任凭经济衰退，最大的受害者将是平民百姓。
We must live up to the calling we share．Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment．It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism，of community over chaos．This commitment，if we keep it，is a way to shared accomplishment．
我们应该时刻听取时代的呼唤。谦逊有礼不是战术也不是感情用事。这是我们最坚定的选择——在批评声中赢得信任；在混乱中寻求统一。如果遵循这样的承诺，我们将会享有共同的成就。
America，at its best，is also courageous．
美国有强大的国力作后盾，将会勇往直前。
Our national courage has been clear in times of depression and war，when defending common dangers defined our common good．Now we must choose if the example of our fathers and mothers will inspire us or condemn us．We must show courage in a time of blessing by confronting problems instead of passing them on to future generations．
在大萧条和战争时期，我们的人民在困难面前表现得无比英勇，克服我们共同的困难体现了我们共同的优秀品质。现在，我们正面临着选择，如果我们作出正确的选择，祖辈一定会激励我们；如果我们的选择是错误的，祖辈会谴责我们的。上帝正眷顾着这个国家，我们必须显示出我们的勇气，敢于面对问题，而不是将它们遗留给我们的后代。