就职演讲

My fellow citizens: at this last presidential inauguration of the 20th century, let us lift our eyes toward the challenges that await us in the next century.
同胞们：藉此二十世纪最后一届总统就职演说之际，让我们一起远眺在下一个世纪我们将要面临的挑战。
It is our great good fortune that time and chance have put us not only at the edge of a new century, in a new millennium,
所幸的是，时间和机遇不仅将我们置身于一个新世纪的边缘，一个新的千年，
but on the edge of a bright new prospect in human affairs a moment that will define our course, and our character, for decades to come.
而且是人类事业史上一个光明的崭新前景的边缘，这个时刻将会决定我们未来数十年的道路和特点。
We must keep our old democracy forever young.
我们必须使我们古老的民主永葆青春。
Guided by the ancient vision of a promised land, let us set our sights upon a land of new promise.
在“希望之乡”这一古老憧憬的指引下，让我们着眼于新的“希望之乡”。
The promise of America was born in the 18th century out of the bold conviction that we are all created equal.
美国的希望源于十八世纪一种无畏的信念：人皆生而平等。
It was extended and preserved in the 19th century, when our nation spread across the continent, saved the union, and abolished the awful scourge of slavery.
随着十九世纪，我们的国家横跨大陆，拯救了联邦，废除了恐怖的奴隶制的蹂躏，这一希望得以进一步发展和维护。
Then, in turmoil and triumph, that promise exploded onto the world stage to make this the American Century.
然后，在动荡和胜利之中，这一希望奔上了世界的舞台，使这个世纪成为美国的世纪。
And what a century it has been.
这是怎样的一个世纪啊。
America became the world's mightiest industrial power; saved the world from tyranny in two world wars and a long cold war;
美国成为世界上最强大的工业大国，它把世界从两次世界大战和旷日持久的冷战的暴虐中拯救出来，
and time and again, reached out across the globe to millions who, like us, longed for the blessings of liberty.
并且一再向全球上百万像我们一样渴望自由赐福的人们伸出援助之手。
Along the way, Americans produced a great middle class and security in old age;
在这一进程中，美国产生了庞大的中产阶级和老年人保险制度，
built unrivaled centers of learning and opened public schools to all; split the atom and explored the heavens;invented the computer and the microchip;
建立了无与伦比的学习中心，并对全民开放公立学校，分裂了原子且探索了太空，发明了计算机和微芯片，
and deepened the wellspring of justice by making a revolution in civil rights for African Americans and all minorities,
通过发起一场非裔美国人和少数民族的民权革命，
and extending the circle of citizenship, opportunity and dignity to women.
及扩大妇女的公民权利，就业机会和人身尊严，而深掘了正义之泉。
Now, for the third time, a new century is upon us, and another time to choose.
现在，也是第三次，一个新世纪来到我们面前，这又是一个选择的时候，
We began the 19th century with a choice, to spread our nation from coast to coast.
我们进入十九世纪时有一个选择，使得我们国家从一个海岸扩展到另一个海岸，

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。