America, at its best, is a place where personal responsibility is valued and expected. Encouraging responsibility is not a search for scapegoats; it is a call to conscience. And though it requires sacrifice, it brings a deeper fulfillment. We find the fullness of life not only in options, but in commitments. And we find that children and community are the commitments that set us free.
Our public interest depends on private character, on civic duty, family bonds and basic fairness, and on uncounted, unhonored acts of decency which give direction to our freedom.
Sometimes in life we are called to do great things. But as a saint of our times has said, every day we are called to do small things with great love. The most important tasks of a democracy are done by everyone.
我們不接受這種狀況，我們不允許這種狀況的存在。我們的團(tuán)結(jié)，我們的聯(lián)合，是每一代領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人和國(guó)民的嚴(yán)肅使命。
最理想的美國(guó)是這么一個(gè)國(guó)家，那里個(gè)人的責(zé)任得到尊重，個(gè)人也應(yīng)該有責(zé)任心。我們鼓勵(lì)人們承擔(dān)責(zé)任，我們不是在尋找替罪羊，而是呼喚人們的良知。盡管這樣做需要付出代價(jià)，但這樣做能帶來(lái)更大的成就感。生活的充實(shí)不僅在于做出選擇，還在于承擔(dān)義務(wù)。我們感到致力于兒童和社會(huì)事業(yè)使我們獲得了自由。
我們的公共利益依賴于個(gè)人品格，依賴于公民職責(zé)、家庭紐帶和基本公平的原則，依賴于將我們引向自由的無(wú)數(shù)默默無(wú)聞的高尚行為。生活中有時(shí)我們被召喚去從事偉大的事業(yè)。但是，正如我們這個(gè)時(shí)代的一位圣人所言，我們每天都被召喚去以大愛(ài)做小事。一個(gè)民主政體中的最重要的使命是靠大家來(lái)完成的。
What you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to seek the common good beyond your comfort, to defend needed reforms against easy attacks, to serve your nation beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens, not subjects, responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character.
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.
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 of every life.
你們的作為與政府的作為同樣重要。我請(qǐng)求你們?yōu)榇蟊娭\利而不計(jì)較個(gè)人安逸，捍衛(wèi)所需的改革而不是隨意攻擊，報(bào)效祖國(guó)從幫助鄰居做起。我請(qǐng)求你們做公民而不做臣民，做有責(zé)任心的公民，建設(shè)有奉獻(xiàn)精神的社區(qū)、有高尚品格的國(guó)家。
美國(guó)人慷慨、堅(jiān)強(qiáng)、正直，這不是因?yàn)槲覀兿嘈抛晕遥且驗(yàn)槲覀兊男拍畛搅俗晕?。這種公民精神一旦失去，政府的任何規(guī)劃都將無(wú)法取代。只要存在這種精神，任何邪惡都無(wú)法與之較量。
今天我們?cè)俅沃厣赀@樣的宗旨：我們將永不疲倦、永不屈服、永不停止地使國(guó)家變得更為公正、更為慷慨，我們矢志維護(hù)我們的人生尊嚴(yán)，我們矢志維護(hù)我們每個(gè)個(gè)體的人生尊嚴(yán)。
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