1. Theyare the principleson whichmy wife and I have tried tobring upour family. They are the principlesin whichmy fatherbelievedandby whichhe governed his life. They are theprinciples,many of them,whichI learnedat my mother's knee.
1、這些是我和我太太在教育子女的時候所盡力倚仗的信條,這些是我父親所深信并以之為人生律條的信條,這些信條中的大部分是我從母親的膝下秉承而來的。 (一串定語從句)
2. Theypoint the waytousefulness and happinessin life,tocourage and peaceindeath.
2、這些信條告訴人們如何快樂而有所作為地活著,也告訴人們如何勇敢而安詳地面對死亡。
3.Iftheymean toyouwhat they mean to me, they mayperhapsbehelpful also toour sons for theirguidanceandinspiration.
3、假如這些信條于諸位的意義如同它們于我的意義,那么也許它們可以有效地指導和鼓舞我們的兒女們。
4.Let mestate them:4、讓我說出這些信條:
5. Ibelieveinthesupremeworth of the individualandinhis right to life,liberty, and thepursuitof happiness.
5、我相信,個人擁有無上的(supreme)價值,擁有生存、自由和追求幸福的權利。
6. Ibelievethatevery rightimplies aresponsibility;every opportunity, anobligation;everypossession,a duty.
6、我相信,每一項權利都必然包含著(imply)責任,每一個機遇都必然包含著義務,每一種獲得都必然包含著職責。
7. Ibelieve thatthe law was made for man and not man for the law;thatgovernmentistheservantof the peopleandnot theirmaster.
7、我相信,法律為人而制,而非人為法律而生,政府是人民的公仆,而非人民的主人。
8. Ibelieveinthedignity of labor,whetherwithheadorhand;thatthe worldowesno man a living butthatitowesevery manan opportunity to make aliving.
8、我相信,無論體力勞動還是腦力勞動都是高尚的(dignity),世界不會讓人不勞而獲,而會給人一次謀生的機會。
9. Ibelieve thatthriftisessentialtowell-orderedlivingandthateconomy is aprime requisiteof a soundfinancialstructure,whether ingovernment, business,orpersonal affairs.
9、我相信,無論在政府、商業還是個人事務中,勤儉節約都是合理安排生活之基本要素(be essential to 對…必要的),而經濟適用是健全的金融機制(a sound financial structure)之必需。
10. Ibelievethattruth andjusticeare fundamental toanenduringsocial order.
10、我相信,真理和正義是任何一個長治久安的社會秩序之基礎。
11. Ibelieveinthesacredness of a promise,thata man's wordshouldbe as good as his bonds,thatcharacter-not wealth or power orposition-is of supreme worth.
11、我相信,承諾是神圣的;我也相信,假如人的言語(a man's word)能和契約同樣可靠(as good as),那么這種品質(thatcharacter)-而非財富、權勢與身份地位-就具有至高無上的價值。
12. Ibelievethatthe rendering of useful serviceis the common duty ofmankind andthatonlyin thepurifyingfire ofsacrificeisthedrossofselfishnessconsumedandthegreatness of the human soulset free.
12、我相信,人類共同的職責是有用地服務社會(the rendering of useful service),只有在自我犧牲的煉火中(only in the purifying fire of sacrifice),自私的沉渣才會被焚為灰燼(only 在句首時,句子要倒裝,is提到主語前),人類靈魂中的偉大情操才會顯現(setfree)。
13. Ibelieveinanall-wiseandall-lovingGod,namedbywhatevername, andthattheindividual'shighest fulfillment,greatest happiness,andwidest usefulnessare tobe found inliving inharmonywithhis will.
13、我相信,有一位大智大慧、大慈大悲的上帝存在-盡管人們對他的稱呼各不相同--人們能在與他的意志相和諧的生活過程中得到最高的滿足感(highest fulfillment)、最大的幸福感(greatesthappiness),以及最廣博的成就感(widest usefulness)。
14. Ibelievethatlove is the greatest thing in the world;thatitalonecanovercomehate;thatrightcan and willtriumph over might.
14、我相信,世界上最偉大的事物就是愛,只有愛能夠戰勝仇恨,而真理(right)能夠而且必定能擊敗強權(might)。
15.These are the principles,howeverformulated,for whichallgood men and womenthroughoutthe world,irrespectiveof race orcreed,education, social position, or occupation, arestanding, andforwhichmany of themaresufferingand dying.
15、無論怎樣表達(howeverformulated),以上就是那些信條-世界上所有不計(irrespective)種族、信仰、教育、地位或職業的善良的人們(all good men and women)所代表(stand for)的信條-而且正是為了這些信條,他們中許多人正在忍受折磨(suffer for),甚至正在死去。
16.These are the principlesupon whichalone a newworldrecognizingthe brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of Godcan beestablished.
16、只有憑借這些信條,人類才能建立起人人如手足、上帝如慈父的新世界。