就职演讲

We began the 20th century with a choice, to harness the Industrial Revolution to our values of free enterprise, conservation, and human decency.
我们进入二十世纪时又有一个选择，使得工业革命能符合我们的价值观，即自由经营，水土保持，和恪守人类正义，
Those choices made all the difference.
这些选择使得一切迥然不同。
At the dawn of the 21st century a free people must now choose to shape the forces of the Information Age and the global society,
在二十一世纪曙光来临之际，一个自由的民族必须做出选择，去打造信息时代和全球一体化的力量。
to unleash the limitless potential of all our people, and, yes, to form a more perfect union.
去释放全民无尽的潜能，并且，去成就一个更完美的联邦国家。
When last we gathered, our march to this new future seemed less certain than it does today. We vowed then to set a clear course to renew our nation.
上次我们在此相聚时，我们向这个新未来的进军似乎没有今天这么明确，我们那时曾宣誓确立新的道路，复兴我们的国家。
In these four years, we have been touched by tragedy, exhilarated by challenge, strengthened by achievement.
在这四年中，我们感到悲剧带来的触动，挑战带来的兴奋，成就带来的增强，
America stands alone as the world's indispensable nation.
美国作为世界不可缺少的国家巍然挺立，
Once again, our economy is the strongest on Earth.
再一次， 我们的经济是世界上最强大的经济，
Once again, we are building stronger families, thriving communities, better educational opportunities, a cleaner environment.
再一次，我们建设着更牢固的家庭，繁荣的社区，更好的教育机会，更清洁的环境，
Problems that once seemed destined to deepen now bend to our efforts: our streets are safer and record numbers of our fellow citizens have moved from welfare to work.
曾经似乎注定要恶化的问题现在也屈服于我们的努力，我们的街道更安全，我们的同胞有创记录的人数已从福利走向工作。
And once again, we have resolved for our time a great debate over the role of government.
再一次，我们解决了当前关于政府角色问题的巨大争论。
Today we can declare: Government is not the problem, and government is not the solution.
今天我们可以宣告：政府不是问题的产生者，政府也不是问题的解决者，
We the American people we are the solution.
我们-美国人民-我们才是问题的解决者，
Our founders understood that well and gave us a democracy strong enough to endure for centuries,
我们的缔造者深深地了解这一点，他们给予我们的民主强壮的足以持续几个世纪。
flexible enough to face our common challenges and advance our common dreams in each new day.
柔韧地足以在每一新的日子里迎接我们共同的挑战并推进我们共同的梦想。
As times change, so government must change.
随着时代更迭，政府必须改革。
We need a new government for a new century humble enough not to try to solve all our problems for us,
新世纪需要新政府，虽然不能解决我们的所有问题，
but strong enough to give us the tools to solve our problems for ourselves; a government that is smaller, lives within its means, and does more with less.
但却有能力为解决问题提供助力，虽然规模不大，但却通过自己的方式经营，经常事倍功半。
Yet where it can stand up for our values and interests in the world,
如何实现自身价值，如果正确个人利益，
and where it can give Americans the power to make a real difference in their everyday lives, government should do more, not less.
如果让美国民众改变生活，改变命运，政府应该发挥职能，而不是无所作为。

总统介绍

威廉·杰斐逊·克林顿，美国律师、政治家，美国民主党成员，曾任阿肯色州州长、全美州长联席会议主席、联合国海地事务特使、克林顿基金会主席、第42任，52届美国总统。