2005年1月20日
Vice President Cheney，Mr．Chief Justice，President Carter，President Bush，President Clinton，reverend clergy，distinguished guests，fellow citizens：
切尼副总统、首席法官先生、卡特总统、布什总统、克林顿总统、牧师大人、尊敬的来宾、同胞们：
On this day，prescribed by law and marked by ceremony，we celebrate the durable wisdom of our Constitution，and recall the deep commitments that unite our country．I am grateful for the honor of this hour，mindful of the consequential times in which we live，and determined to fulfill the oath that I have sworn and you have witnessed．
今天，按照宪法的规定我们举行这个典礼。我们在此欢庆我国宪法常青的智慧，追寻我们团结全国的深切责任感。我感谢这个时刻带来的荣耀，意识到我们时代的期盼并期待着完成我的誓言，请你们作证。
At this second gathering，our duties are defined not by the words I use，but by the history we have seen together．For a half century，America defended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders．After the shipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet，years of repose，years of sabbatical－and then there came a day of fire．
这是我们第二次聚会，我们的责任并非由我的演讲来确定，它源于我们当前历史时期的要求。半个世纪以来，美国在遥远的边界上捍卫着我们的自由。共产主义溃灭后我们有相对平静、安宁与悠闲的一些岁月，然而随后又有恐怖灾难的那一天在我们的生活中降临。
We have seen our vulnerability—and we have seen its deepest source．For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and tyranny－prone to ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder－violence will gather，and multiply in destructive power，and cross the most defended borders，and raise a mortal threat．There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment，and expose the pretensions of tyrants，and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant，and that is the force of human freedom．
我们已看到了自身的弱点，我们也深知其根源所在。只要世界某些区域还酝存着不满、滋生着暴君，就会产生宣扬仇恨和为屠杀寻找借口的意识形态，就会聚集暴力和毁灭的能量。它们会越过严密把守的边界给我们带来毁灭的威胁。这个世界只存在一种力量可以冲决仇恨，揭露暴君的虚伪，扶植容忍，培育尊严，那就是人类的自由。
We are led，by events and common sense，to one conclusion：The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands．The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world．
我们受常识的指引和历史的教诲，得出如下结论：自由是否能在我们的土地上存在，正日益依赖于自由能否也在别国获得充分体现。对和平的热切期望只能源于自由在世界上的扩展。
Americas vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one．From the day of our Founding，we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights，and dignity，and matchless value，because they bear the image of the Maker of Heaven and earth．Across the generations we have proclaimed the imperative of self－government，because no one is fit to be a master，and no one deserves to be a slave．Advancing these ideals is the mission that created our Nation．It is the honorable achievement of our fathers．Now it is the urgent requirement of our nations security，and the calling of our time．
关系到美国生死存亡的利益和我们基本的信念是合而为一的。自立国开始，我们就宣示：生于世间的每个男女都拥有他们自身天赋的权力、尊严和无可比拟的价值，因为他们本身就是造物主的天地之物。每一世代，我们都重申着民有自治的重要性，因为没有什么人天生就应该是主人而另一些人就应该是奴隶。遵循这一理念使命行事已成为我们的立国之本。我们的先辈荣耀地完成了这一使命。现在，进一步扩展这一理念已成为国家安全保障的发展要求和新的时代的呼唤。
So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture，with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world．
有鉴于此，美国的政策是寻求并支持世界各国和各种文化背景下成长的民主运动，寻求并支持民主的制度化。最终的目标是终结世间的任何极权制度。
This is not primarily the task of arms，though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary．Freedom，by its nature，must be chosen，and defended by citizens，and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities．And when the soul of a nation finally speaks，the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own．America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling．Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice，attain their own freedom，and make their own way．
这个目标的最终达成不应完全依赖武力，尽管在必要时，我们将以武力自卫，并保卫我们的朋友。自由的性质要求公民应当自觉地去选择它，捍卫它，并通过立法来加以维护，同时保障社会中劣势生存者。当一个国家的魂魄最终选择自由时，它的现存制度将牵引出具备它自身特点的文化和传统。美国将不会强迫任何国家接受我们的国家体制。我们的目的，只是帮助其他国家的人找到他们自己的心声，获得他们自身的自由，发现他们自身实现自由的道路。
The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations．The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it．Americas influence is not unlimited，but fortunately for the oppressed，Americas influence is considerable，and we will use it confidently in freedoms cause．
终结专制统治的巨大使命需由几代人全力以赴地共同努力。我们决不能因其实现艰难就无所作为。尽管就真实而言，美国的影响力是有限的，但对那些被专制压迫的人来说，值得庆幸的是，美国的关注影响力也是相当大的。有鉴于此，我们将充满信心地在追求自由的道路上充分发挥好这一影响力。
My most solemn duty is to protect this nation and its people against further attacks and emerging threats．Some have unwisely chosen to test Americas resolve，and have found it firm．
我作为总统最庄严的责任就是保护我们的国家和它的人民不再受到任何新的恐怖袭击和威胁。有些人总在愚蠢地选择试探美国的决心，可他们最终感受到的将是我们面对威胁所具有的毫不动摇的意志。
We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation：The moral choice between oppression，which is always wrong，and freedom，which is eternally right．America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains，or that women welcome humiliation and servitude，or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies．
我们将会坚持不懈地澄清摆在每个统治者和每个国家面前的选择：即在道义上选择给公民压迫的终极错误还是给公民自由的终极正确。美国不会装模作样地述说是被关押的异议者自我青睐束缚他们的枷锁，也不会佯称说是妇女们自身喜欢遭受屈辱和奴役，更不会默许任何人类的成员任由他人摆布及仰人鼻息地生活。
We will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people．Americas belief in human dignity will guide our policies，yet rights must be more than the grudging concessions of dictators；they are secured by free dissent and the participation of the governed．In the long run，there is no justice without freedom，and there can be no human rights without human liberty．
我们将鼓励其他国家政府的改革。我们的态度是非常明确的：要想同我国建立良好关系，就必须体面地对待其自己的国民。美国对人类尊严看重的信念将影响我们政策的制定。我们深知：公民权利的享有并不源于独裁者违心的让步，更多地将依靠公民自由地发表意见的行为展露以及对统治者权利的法定分享来实现。从长远看，没有自由，就没有正义。没有公民的自由，就不存在人权。