05 The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Fear Itself
富兰克林•罗斯福总统第1次就职演讲:我们唯一要害怕的,是恐惧本身
美国第32任总统富兰克林•罗斯福又被称为“小罗斯福”,他连续4届出任总统(1933-1945),是美国历史上唯一连任超过2届的总统。此后根据1951年通过的宪法第22条修正案,总统任期不得超过2届。
从1798到1933年,美国总统的就职日都是在3月4日举行,但这个传统在富兰克林•罗斯福总统的首次就职典礼后画上句号。1933年通过的《宪法第20条修正案》,规定总统宣誓就职的日期为1月20日中午时分。美国《宪法》第2条第1款规定了总统宣誓就职的誓词。
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
我谨庄严宣誓,我必忠实执行合众国总统职务,竭尽全力,恪守、维护和捍卫合众国宪法。
富兰克林•罗斯福任内遭遇到了2件历史大事,即1929至1940年的经济大萧条危机和第二次世界大战。在1933年,新当选的富兰克林•罗斯福总统面临的是经济大萧条的艰难处境。在这一哀鸿遍野的时刻,他在首任就职演讲中敦促美国人不要屈服于恐惧与绝望。
在英国《每日电讯报》2008年评选出的20至21世纪最重要的25场政治演讲中,这一篇也被收录其中。
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Speaker 美国第32任总统富兰克林・罗斯福(Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1882-1945)
Time1933 年3月4日
Place 美国华盛顿特区(Washington, D.C.)
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This is a day of national consecration. And I am certain that on this day my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency, I will address them with a candorand a decision which the present situation of our people impels. This is pre-eminentlythe time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure, as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.
So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself——nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.
In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days. In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things.
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy, the moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescentprofits. These dark days, my friends, will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves, to our fellow men.
Great Depression in the United States
今天是国家授任典礼的日子,我相信在这一天,全国同胞们一定期待我能在总统就职典礼上,针对国家当前的局势所需,做一个坦诚而明确的报告。这也的确是一个据实以告的最佳时机,我们不需要畏缩,我们可以坦然面对我们国家目前的形势。这个伟大的国家一向经得起考验,它会继续存在下去,并且复兴和繁荣起来。
所以,首先容我申明我的坚定信念:我们唯一要害怕的,就是恐惧本身——这意思是说,毫无理由、莫名其妙的恐惧,会阻碍我们从逆境中振作起来、继续往前走。
在我们国家所经历过的每一个黑暗时刻里,一个坦诚、有魄力的领导人,都能获得人民的体谅与支持,而这就是胜利的主要原因。我相信,在现在这个危急的时刻里,你们也同样会给予支持。不论是我个人还是你们各位,我们都要以这种精神来面对大家共同的困境。感谢上帝,我们面临的还只是物质上的问题。
幸福,并不单单建立在金钱之上。幸福也来自取得成就所带来的喜悦,来自努力创造时所带来的兴奋感。我们不应该忘记工作本身所带来的喜悦和鼓舞,而疯狂地去追逐一时的利益。如果我们在这当中能够学习到,我们真正的天命不是接受帮助,而是去帮助自己和同胞们,那我们在这些黑暗日子里所付出的代价都算是值得的了。
Great Depression in the United States
Recognition of that falsity of material wealth as the standard of success goes hand in hand with the abandonment of the false belief that public office and high political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit; and there must be an end to a conduct in banking and in business which too often has given to a sacred trust the likeness of callousand selfish wrongdoing. Small wonder that confidence languishes, for it thrives only on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection, and on unselfish performance; without them it cannot live.
一旦认识到“用财富来衡量成功”是一种错误的观念,自然也就不会用名和利来衡量官员。还有,银行和商业常因一己之私而挪用信托,我们也必须遏止这种恶风。这也难怪信心在崩盘,因为唯有诚实、信誉、恪尽职守、忠心维护和无私的行为,才能鼓舞信心,一旦少了这些,信心就不可能存在。