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世界经典文学精选. 65
作者：John F. Kennedy 约翰·F·肯尼迪
选自约翰·F·肯尼迪《Inaugural Address》《肯尼迪就职演说》
英文原作，1961年1月20日发表。
英文原文
Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice,
President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman,
reverend clergy, fellow citizens,
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.
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 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 those 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, oppose any foe,
in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge—and more.
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 cooperative ventures.
Divided, there is little we can do—
for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.
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.
To those peoples in the huts and villages across 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.
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.
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.
译文
约翰逊副总统、议长先生、首席大法官先生、
艾森豪威尔总统、尼克松副总统、杜鲁门总统、
尊敬的神职人员、各位公民：我们今天见证的不是政党的胜利，
而是一场自由的庆典；它象征着一个结束，也象征着一个开端；
意味着革新，也意味着变革。
因为我已在你们和全能的上帝面前，
宣读了我们先辈在大约一百七十五年前拟定的庄严誓言。
如今的世界已然大不相同。
人类凡俗的双手，
已然掌握消灭一切贫困
与毁灭所有人类生命的力量。
然而，我们先辈为之奋斗的那些革命信念，
依旧在全球备受争议：
人的权利并非来自国家的慷慨施舍，
而是来自上帝之手。
今天，我们不敢忘记，我们是第一场革命的继承者。
让宣言从此时此地传遍四方，无论友敌：
火炬已经传递给新一代美国人。
他们生于本世纪，受过战争淬炼，
历经艰苦和平的磨砺，为古老的传统遗产自豪；
他们不愿目睹，也绝不允许人权被慢慢侵蚀——
这个国家一直坚守这些人权，
今天我们在国内与全世界依旧矢志不渝。
让所有国家都知道，无论对我们怀有善意还是敌意，
我们愿意付出任何代价、承担任何重担、迎接任何艰难、
支持任何友人、对抗任何敌人，
以此捍卫自由的存续与胜利。
这是我们的承诺，除此之外，还有更多。
对于那些与我们拥有共同文化与精神根源的老牌盟友，
我们承诺，将坚守挚友般的忠诚。
倘若团结，在众多合作事业中我们几乎无所不能；
倘若分裂，我们几乎一事无成——
因为我们绝不能在分裂不和的状态下迎接强大挑战。
对于那些加入自由阵营的新兴国家，
我们郑重承诺：一种殖民统治的结束，
绝不意味着取而代之的是更为严酷的暴政。
我们不会奢望他们永远认同我们的观点。
但我们始终希望他们坚定守护自身的自由。
同时铭记：过去那些愚蠢地骑在虎背上谋求权力之人，
最终都会葬身虎口。
对于全世界茅舍与乡村里，
奋力挣脱普遍苦难枷锁的民众，
我们承诺竭尽全力帮助他们自立，
无论需要多久。
不是因为共产主义者正在这么做，
不是为了换取他们的选票，
而是因为这件事本身是正义的。
倘若自由社会不能帮助众多穷人，
那它也无法保全少数富人。
最后，对于那些想要与我们为敌的国家，
我们不是做出承诺，而是提出请求：
双方重新开启对和平的追寻，
以免科学释放出的毁灭性黑暗力量，
在蓄意或意外的自我毁灭中将全人类吞噬。
因此，我的美国同胞们：不要问国家能为你做什么，
而要问你能为国家做什么。
全世界的公民们：不要问美国将为你们做什么，
而要问我们共同能为人类的自由做些什么。
🔍长难句赏析与拆解
原句：
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 those human rights
to which this Nation has always been committed,
and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
句式解读：
第一句含that引导宾语从句。
第二句主干为Let the word go forth，
that引导同位语从句解释word；
破折号后连用四个过去分词与形容词短语born…,
tempered…, disciplined…, proud…
作后置定语修饰Americans；
末尾两个to which引导并列定语从句修饰human rights。
句式宏大，层层嵌套，排比修饰增强气势。
句子主干：
We must remember we inherit the first revolution.
Let all people, friends and enemies, hear:
the freedom torch is handed to new Americans.
They refuse to see human rights being destroyed,
rights our country has always defended.
文学赏析：
本段是演说的核心段落之一。
“火炬传递”是经典比喻，象征自由理想代代相传。
连续排比短语塑造新一代美国人形象，气势层层递进。
同位语从句+双定语从句的组合，
正式庄重，符合就职演说的文体。
既回顾历史传承，又申明国家坚守人权的立场，
感染力极强，为后文一系列对外承诺做好铺垫。
写作迁移点拨：
适用于演讲稿、议论文，可用于传承、
使命、青年担当、理想延续类主题。
仿写：
We dare not forget today that we are the keepers of that noble spirit.
Let the message go forth from this time and place, to friend and rival alike,
that the mission has been carried forward to a new generation of young people—
raised in this era, tested by hardships,
guided by steady hopes, proud of our long-standing culture—
and unwilling to witness or permit the gradual loss of those precious values
to which our community has always been devoted,
and to which we are devoted today at home and far away.
原句：
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.
句式解读：
采用对称对比结构 ask not…ask what…，
否定分句在前，肯定在后；
两句形成工整平行结构，
节奏短促有力，是英语演讲中经典的对偶修辞。
句子主干：
Don’t ask what your country can serve you.
Ask what you can serve your country.
Don’t ask what America can serve you.
Ask what we can work together for human freedom.
文学赏析：
运用对仗，语言简洁铿锵，一改前面长句铺陈，短句直击人心。
从索取转向奉献，把演说落到个体责任，升华主旨。
简短有力，极易记忆、传诵，是演讲结尾升华的典范。
写作迁移点拨：
适合议论文结尾、演讲稿经典句，
用于责任、奉献、格局、个人与集体主题。
仿写：
And so, my fellow students: ask not what your school can do for you—
ask what you can do for your school.
My fellow young people: ask not what society will do for you,
but what together we can do for the progress of all.
📝全篇句式特点
本文选自肯尼迪总统就职演说，是英语演讲史上不朽名篇。
文体正式庄重，善用排比、对偶、比喻；长短句交错，
长句铺陈说理，短句迸发力量。
多处使用同位语从句、定语从句，逻辑严密，气势充沛。
演说脉络：开篇点明就职不是政党胜利，
而是自由的庆典；回顾先辈革命遗产，
宣告自由火炬传递给新一代美国人；
依次对盟友、新兴国家、贫困地区民众、
敌对国家分别做出承诺与呼吁；
最后转向普通民众，号召个体承担责任，以传世经典句收尾。
核心词汇
1. solemn
/ˈsɒləm/
庄严的，郑重的
形容词 (adj.)
2. forebear
/ˈfɔːbeə(r)/
祖先，先辈
名词 (n.)
3. mortal
/ˈmɔːtl/
凡人的，人类的
形容词 (adj.)
4. heir
/eə(r)/
继承人，继承者
名词 (n.)
5. temper
/ˈtempə(r)/
锻炼，磨炼
动词 (v.)
6. heritage
/ˈherɪtɪdʒ/
遗产，传统
名词 (n.)
7. foe
/fəʊ/
敌人
名词 (n.)
8. tyranny
/ˈtɪrəni/
暴政，专制
名词 (n.)
9. adversary
/ˈædvəsəri/
对手，敌手
名词 (n.)
10. unleash
/ʌnˈliːʃ/
释放，放开
动词 (v.)
11. engulf
/ɪnˈɡʌlf/
吞没，吞噬
动词 (v.)
12. pledge
/pledʒ/
承诺，发誓
动词 (v.)
💡主旨品读
肯尼迪就职演说，是二十世纪最经典的政治演讲。
演讲立足于冷战时代背景，面对复杂的国际局势，
重申美国继承自革命时代的自由理念。
演说不局限于国内事务，面向全世界发声，区分盟友、
新兴国家、贫困地区以及敌对国家，提出不同的外交主张。
演说最动人之处，是把宏大的国家使命落脚于每一个普通人：
不要一味索取，而要主动奉献。
名句“不要问国家能为你做什么，而要问你能为国家做什么”
跳出了利益交换的思维，倡导公民责任感。
文本适合用于责任担当、理想传承、个人与集体、
和平发展、青年使命等作文主题；句式工整优美，
排比和对偶大量使用，非常适合背诵摘抄、演讲稿仿写。
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