John F. Kennedy
byname?JFK, (born May 29, 1917,?Brookline,?Massachusetts, U.S.—died November 22, 1963,?Dallas, Texas), 35th?president?of the?United States?(1961–63), who faced?a number of?foreign crises, especially in?Cuba?and Berlin, but managed to secure such achievements as the?Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty?and the?Alliance for Progress. He was?assassinated?while riding in a?motorcade?in Dallas.
1 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.
2 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 belief for which our forebears fought is 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.
3 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 these human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
4 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.
5 This much we pledge and more.
6 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 co-operative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do, for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.
7 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.
8 To those peoples 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.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.
14 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.
15 Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.
16 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.
17 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.
18 Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah to "undo the heavy burdens...(and) let the oppressed go free".
19 And if a beachhead of co-operation 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.
20 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.
21 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.
22 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.
23 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 the historic effort?
24 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.
25 And so, my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
26 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.
27 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.
(from A Treasury of the World's Great Speeches, 1965)
詞匯(Vocabulary)
inaugural (adj.) : of an inauguration就職(典禮)的
signify (v.) : be a sign or indication of；mean表明；意味
almighty (adj.) : having unlimited power；all-powerful有無限權(quán)力的；全能的
forebear (n.) : an ancester 祖先，祖宗
prescribe (v.) : set down as a rule or direction；order；ordain；direct命令；指示；規(guī)定，訂立
generosity (n.) : the quality of being generous慷慨；寬宏大量
heir (n.) : person who appears to get some trait from a predecessor or seems to carry on in his tradition繼承者；后嗣
foe (n.) : enemy；opponent敵人
undoing (n.) : the act of bringing to ruin，disgrace，or destruction毀滅；破壞
at odds : in disagreement；quarreling意見不一致；有爭(zhēng)執(zhí)
asunder (adv.) : into parts or pieces分成碎片；分散
prey (n.) : a person or thing that falls victim to someone or something犧牲品；掠奪品
subversion (n.) : a subverting or being subverted．ruin 顛覆(活動(dòng))；破壞
sovereign (adj.) : independent of all others獨(dú)立自主的
outpace (v.) : surpass；exceed在速度上超過；勝過
invective (n.) : a violent verbal attack．strong criticism，insults, curses, etc.; vituperation 抨擊；辱罵，謾罵
shield (n.) : any person or thing that guards，protects，or defends; protection保護(hù)人；防護(hù)物；保護(hù)
writ (n.) : a formal legal document ordering or prohibiting some action命令；律令；文書；傳票
adversary (n.) : a person who opposes or fights against another; opponent；enemy對(duì)手，反對(duì)者；敵手，敵方
anew (adv.) : again重新，再
unleash (v.) : release from or as from a leash(解開皮帶以)釋放
engulf (v.) : swallow up；overwhelm 吞沒，淹沒，壓倒
civility (n.) : politeness．esp. in a merely formal way 禮貌，客氣
belabor (v.) : talk about at unnecessary length嘮嘮叨叨地反復(fù)講
formulate (v.) : put together and express (a theory．plan ,etc.)a systematic way系統(tǒng)地闡述(或提出)(理論、計(jì)劃等)
tap (v.) : draw upon；make use of開發(fā)、發(fā)掘
heed (v.) : pay close attention to；take careful notice of注意, 留神，留心
beachhead (n.) : a position established by invading troops on an enemy shore；a position gained as a secare starting point for any action；foothold灘頭堡，登陸場(chǎng)；立足點(diǎn)
endeavor (n.) : an earnest attempt or effort努力，盡力
testimony (n.) : any form of evidence，indication. etc.；proof證明，證據(jù)
embattle (v.) : [常用于被動(dòng)語態(tài)]prepare，array，or set in line for battle使準(zhǔn)備戰(zhàn)斗，使嚴(yán)陣以待
tribulation (n.) : great misery or distress, as from oppression；deep sorrow苦難；困苦；憂傷
forge (v.) : move forward steadily，as if against difficulties; form；produce(似乎迎著困難)穩(wěn)步前進(jìn)；形成；結(jié)成
alliance (n.) : a close association for a common objective as of nations，political parties，etc．聯(lián)盟，聯(lián)合，同盟
短語 (Expressions)
at issue :? in dispute；to be decided；at variance；in disagreement意見不一致
例： What is at issue is the extent to which exam results reflect a student's ability.意見的分歧之處在于考試對(duì)于學(xué)生能力的影響程度。
at odds :? in disagreement；quarrelling；antagonistic意見不一致，有爭(zhēng)執(zhí)
例： IHe was at odds with his colleagues．他與同事意見不合。
east off :? to discard；abandon；disown丟棄，擺脫
例： A haven of tranquility where you can cast off the strains and stress of life．一個(gè)可以擺脫生活重負(fù)的寧靜港灣
beyond doubt :? certainly毫無疑問
例： She was beyond doubt one of the finest swimmers in the school．毫無疑問，她在學(xué)校里游泳游得最棒。
inaugural? ?
adj.就職的；n.就職典禮
參考例句：
? We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我們通過無線電聽了總統(tǒng)的就職演說。
? Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮爾遜教授在新的階梯講堂發(fā)表了啟用演說。
symbolizing? ?
v.象征，作為…的象征( symbolize的現(xiàn)在分詞 )
參考例句：
? This symbol later evolved into a common hieroglyphic symbolizing victory. 這幕場(chǎng)景后來逐漸演化為象征勝利的普通象形文字。 來自時(shí)文部分
? Mooncakes reunion, is symbolizing the Mid-Autumn festival will feed. 月餅象征著團(tuán)圓，是中秋佳節(jié)必食之品。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
renewal? ?
adj.(契約)延期，續(xù)訂，更新，復(fù)活，重來
參考例句：
? Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就應(yīng)該續(xù)簽了。
? Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.復(fù)活蛋象征新生。
almighty? ?
adj.全能的，萬能的；很大的，很強(qiáng)的
參考例句：
? Those rebels did not really challenge Gods almighty power.這些叛徒?jīng)]有對(duì)上帝的全能力量表示懷疑。
? It's almighty cold outside.外面冷得要命。
generosity? ?
n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行為
參考例句：
? We should match their generosity with our own.我們應(yīng)該像他們一樣慷慨大方。
? We adore them for their generosity.我們欽佩他們的慷慨。
forth? ?
adv.向前；向外，往外
參考例句：
? The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.風(fēng)吹得樹輕輕地來回?fù)u晃。
? He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快連續(xù)發(fā)表了一系列的作品。
foe? ?
n.敵人，仇敵
參考例句：
? He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡爾可能會(huì)成為他的死敵。
? A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敵是敵，友是友，必須分清界限。
unwilling? ?
adj.不情愿的
參考例句：
? The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民勢(shì)力的擺布。
? His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝嗇的雇主不肯給他加薪。
undo? ?
vt.解開，松開；取消，撤銷
參考例句：
? His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢總有一天會(huì)毀了他。
? I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地設(shè)法解開了包裹的一角。
undoing? ?
n.毀滅的原因，禍根；破壞，毀滅
參考例句：
? That one mistake was his undoing. 他一失足即成千古恨。
? This hard attitude may have led to his undoing. 可能就是這種強(qiáng)硬的態(tài)度導(dǎo)致了他的垮臺(tái)。
loyalty? ?
n.忠誠，忠心
參考例句：
? She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告訴他真相是出于忠誠。
? His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他對(duì)朋友的一片忠心從來沒受到懷疑。
odds? ?
n.讓步，機(jī)率，可能性，比率；勝敗優(yōu)劣之別
參考例句：
? The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她獲勝的機(jī)會(huì)是五比一。
? Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道贏得一次彩票的幾率多大嗎？
asunder? ?
adj.分離的，化為碎片
參考例句：
? The curtains had been drawn asunder.窗簾被拉向兩邊。
? Your conscience,conviction,integrity,and loyalties were torn asunder.你的良心、信念、正直和忠誠都被扯得粉碎了。
misery? ?
n.痛苦，苦惱，苦難；悲慘的境遇，貧苦
參考例句：
? Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商業(yè)不景氣常使工薪階層受苦。
? He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我從苦海里救了出來。
prey? ?
n.被掠食者，犧牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠奪，折磨
參考例句：
? Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉強(qiáng)食。
? The lion was hunting for its prey.獅子在尋找獵物。
aggression? ?
n.進(jìn)攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害
參考例句：
? So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我們緊密地團(tuán)結(jié)，就不必懼怕外來侵略。
? Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她認(rèn)為攻擊性是人類本性的一部份。
subversion? ?
n.顛覆，破壞
參考例句：
? He was arrested in parliament on charges of subversion for organizing the demonstration.他因組織示威活動(dòng)在議會(huì)上被以顛覆破壞罪名逮捕。
? It had a cultural identity relatively immune to subversion from neighboring countries.它的文化同一性使它相對(duì)地不易被鄰國所顛覆。
forum? ?
n.論壇，討論會(huì)
參考例句：
? They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他們正在舉行歷史教學(xué)討論會(huì)。
? The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.這個(gè)組織將提供一個(gè)可以討論問題的平臺(tái)。
invective? ?
n.痛罵，惡意抨擊
參考例句：
? He retorted the invective on her.他用惡言諷刺還擊她。
? His command of irony and invective was said to be very classic and lethal.據(jù)說他嬉笑怒罵的本領(lǐng)是極其杰出的，令人無法招架的。
writ? ?
n.命令狀，書面命令
參考例句：
? This is a copy of a writ I received this morning.這是今早我收到的書面命令副本。
? You shouldn't treat the newspapers as if they were Holy Writ. 你不應(yīng)該把報(bào)上說的話奉若神明。
adversary? ?
adj.敵手，對(duì)手
參考例句：
? He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他將她視為公司中主要的對(duì)手。
? They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他們會(huì)不擇手段地去損害對(duì)手的名譽(yù)。
unleash? ?
vt.發(fā)泄，發(fā)出；解帶子放開
參考例句：
? They hope to create allies to unleash against diseases,pests,and invasive species.他們希望創(chuàng)造出一些新群體來對(duì)付疾病、害蟲和一些有侵害性的物種。
? Changing water levels now at times unleash a miasma of disease from exposed sewage.如今，大壩不時(shí)地改變水位，從暴露的污水釋放出了疾病瘴氣。
unleashed? ?
v.把（感情、力量等）釋放出來，發(fā)泄( unleash的過去式和過去分詞 )
參考例句：
? The government's proposals unleashed a storm of protest in the press. 政府的提案引發(fā)了新聞界的抗議浪潮。
? The full force of his rage was unleashed against me. 他把所有的怒氣都發(fā)泄在我身上。 來自《簡(jiǎn)明英漢詞典》
engulf? ?
vt.吞沒，吞食
參考例句：
? Floodwaters engulf a housing project in the Bajo Yuna community in central Dominican Republic.洪水吞沒了多米尼加中部巴杰優(yōu)那社區(qū)的一處在建的住房工程項(xiàng)目。
? If we are not strong enough to cover all the minds up,then they will engulf us,and we are in danger.如果我們不夠堅(jiān)強(qiáng)來抵擋大眾的意念，就會(huì)有被他們吞沒的危險(xiǎn)。
tempt? ?
vt.引誘，勾引，吸引，引起…的興趣
參考例句：
? Nothing could tempt him to such a course of action.什么都不能誘使他去那樣做。
? The fact that she had become wealthy did not tempt her to alter her frugal way of life.她有錢了，可這絲毫沒能讓她改變節(jié)儉的生活習(xí)慣。
racing? ?
n.競(jìng)賽，賽馬；adj.競(jìng)賽用的，賽馬用的
參考例句：
? I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在電視上看賽馬。
? The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.兩個(gè)賽車手伺機(jī)競(jìng)相領(lǐng)先。
sincerity? ?
n.真誠，誠意；真實(shí)
參考例句：
? His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真誠更增加了故事的說服力。
? He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力讓我了解他的誠意。
belabor? ?
vt.痛斥；作過長(zhǎng)說明
參考例句：
? Don't belabor the point.別再羅嗦這事兒了。
? He seems to be looking for a man of straw to belabor.他看來在找一個(gè)假想的敵人來加以痛打。
belaboring? ?
v.毒打一頓( belabor的現(xiàn)在分詞 )；責(zé)罵；就…作過度的說明；向…嘮叨
參考例句：
? Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. 讓雙方探尋那些能將我們團(tuán)結(jié)在一起的因素，而不是那些刻意挑出那些分裂我們的因素。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
?
formulate? ?
v.用公式表示；規(guī)劃；設(shè)計(jì)；系統(tǒng)地闡述
參考例句：
? He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。
? I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陳述觀點(diǎn)的方式讓我印象深刻。
inspection? ?
n.檢查，審查，檢閱
參考例句：
? On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.經(jīng)抽查，發(fā)現(xiàn)肉變質(zhì)了。
? The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵們列隊(duì)接受軍官的日常檢閱。
invoke? ?
v.求助于(神、法律)；懇求，乞求
參考例句：
? Let us invoke the blessings of peace.讓我們祈求和平之福。
? I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)使用這個(gè)條款向你們索賠。
eradicate? ?
v.根除，消滅，杜絕
參考例句：
? These insects are very difficult to eradicate.這些昆蟲很難根除。
? They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他們已經(jīng)在努力消滅瘧疾、破傷風(fēng)等疾病。
heed? ?
v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心
參考例句：
? You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告訴的事。
? For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.這是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。
testimony? ?
n.證詞；見證，證明
參考例句：
? The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的證據(jù)是可疑的。
? He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被傳入為警官所說的話作證。
trumpet? ?
n.喇叭，喇叭聲；v.吹喇叭，吹噓
參考例句：
? He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴，我吹喇叭。
? The trumpet sounded for battle.戰(zhàn)斗的號(hào)角吹響了。
twilight? ?
n.暮光，黃昏；暮年，晚期，衰落時(shí)期
參考例句：
? Twilight merged into darkness.夕陽的光輝融于黑暗中。
? Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充滿紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。
tribulation? ?
n.苦難，災(zāi)難
參考例句：
? Even in our awful tribulation we were quite optimistic.即使在極端痛苦時(shí)，我們?nèi)允謽酚^。
? I hate the tribulation,I commiserate the sorrow brought by tribulation.我厭惡別人深重的苦難，憐憫苦難帶來的悲哀。
blessing? ?
n.祈神賜福；禱告；祝福，祝愿
參考例句：
? The blessing was said in Hebrew.禱告用了希伯來語。
? A double blessing has descended upon the house.雙喜臨門。
treasury? ?
n.寶庫；國庫，金庫；文庫
參考例句：
? The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.財(cái)政部原則上反對(duì)這些提案。
? This book is a treasury of useful information.這本書是有價(jià)值的信息寶庫。
unlimited? ?
adj.無限的，不受控制的，無條件的
參考例句：
? They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他們飛過了茫茫無邊的北極上空。
? There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技術(shù)方面自以為是會(huì)很危險(xiǎn)。
predecessor? ?
n.前輩，前任
參考例句：
? It will share the fate of its predecessor.它將遭受與前者同樣的命運(yùn)。
? The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。
subverting? ?
v.顛覆，破壞（政治制度、宗教信仰等）( subvert的現(xiàn)在分詞 )；使（某人）道德敗壞或不忠
參考例句：
? This viewpoint sees the Multinational Corporation as capable of circumventing or subverting national objectives and policies. 這種觀點(diǎn)認(rèn)為，跨國公司能夠遏制和破壞國家的目標(biāo)和政策。 來自辭典例句
? By simply subverting an expectation, a novelist can undermine a prejudice. 藉由完全推翻期待，一個(gè)小說家可以逐漸破壞一種歧視。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
subverted? ?
v.顛覆，破壞（政治制度、宗教信仰等）( subvert的過去式和過去分詞 )；使（某人）道德敗壞或不忠
參考例句：
? Their wills could be subverted only by death. 只有死神才能使他們放棄他們的意志。 來自教父部分
? Indiana State laws deliberately subverted the intent of the constitutions 14th Amendment. 印第安納州的法律有意歪曲聯(lián)邦憲法第十四條修正案的愿意。 來自辭典例句
systematic? ?
adj.有系統(tǒng)的，有計(jì)劃的，有方法的
參考例句：
? The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有條理。
? The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.這個(gè)教師進(jìn)行系統(tǒng)的教學(xué)工作。
distress? ?
n.苦惱，痛苦，不舒適；不幸；vt.使悲痛
參考例句：
? Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能減輕他的痛苦。
? Please don't distress yourself.請(qǐng)你不要憂愁了。
haven? ?
n.安全的地方，避難所，庇護(hù)所
參考例句：
? It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，這真是一個(gè)安樂窩。
? The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.學(xué)校的圖書館是一個(gè)和平且安靜的小避風(fēng)港。
