66. Bush's Inaugural Address

66. 布什的就职演说

Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it.

美国人民慷慨、强大、体面，这并非因为我们信任我们自己，而是因为我们拥有超越我们自己的信念。一旦这种公民精神丧失了，无论何种政府计划都无法弥补它。一旦这种精神出现了，无论任何错误都无法抗衡它。

After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson: "We know the race is neither to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?"

在《独立宣言》签署之后，弗吉尼亚州的政治家约翰·佩格曾给托马斯·杰弗逊写信说：“我们知道，身手敏捷不一定就能赢得比赛，力量强大不一定就能赢得战争。难道这一切不都是上帝安排的吗?”

Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his inauguration. The years and changes accumulate. But the themes of this day he would know: our nation's grand story of courage and its simple dream of dignity.

杰弗逊就任总统的那个年代离我们已经很远了。时光飞逝，美国发生了翻天覆地的变化。但是有一点他肯定能够预知，即我们这个时代的主题仍然是:我们国家元畏向前的恢宏炊事和它追求尊严的纯朴梦想。

We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity with his purpose. Yet his purpose is achieved in our duty, and our duty is fulfilled in service to one another.

我们不是这个故事的作者，是杰弗逊作者本人的伟大理想穿越时空，并通过我们每天的努力在使她变为现实。我们正在通过大家的努力履行着各自的职责。

Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today, to make our country more just and generous, to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life.

带着永不疲惫、永不气馁、永不完竭的信念，今天我们重树这样的目标：使我们的国家变得更加公正、更加慷慨，去验证我们每个人和所有人生命的尊严。

This work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.

这项工作必须继续下去。这个故事必须延续下去。上帝会驾驭我们航行的。

God bless you all, and God bless America.

愿上帝保佑大家!愿上帝保佑美国。