名校励志英语演讲 159:跨越物质的藩篱 让世界今非昔比(16)

 　　And that's not just how you'll ensure that your own life is well-lived, it's how you'll make a difference in the life of our nation.

　　不仅努力过好自己的生活，更重要的是，努力让自己的国建变得今非昔比。

　　I talked earlier about the selfishness and irresponsibility on Wall Street and Washington that rippled² out and led to so many of the problems that we face today. I talked about the focus on outward markers of success that can help lead us astray.

　　先前我谈到了由于华尔街和华盛顿的人们自私和不负责任致使今天我们面临诸多问题，我也谈到了过分看重成功的外在标志会令我们误入歧途。

　　But here's the thing, Class of 2009—it works the other way, too.

　　2009届的毕业生们，反过来也一样。

　　Acts of sacrifice and decency³, without regard to what's in it for you, that also creates ripple¹ effects, ones that lift up families and communities, that spread opportunity and boost our economy, that reach folks in the forgotten corners of the world, who when committed young people like you see the true face of America, our strength, our goodness, our diversity, our enduring power, our ideals.

　　正直无私的奉献，从不考虑自己能从中得到什么——这种行为也会产生涟漪反应——这种效应能鼓舞家庭和社会；可以传播机遇，繁荣经济，能影响世界上那些被遗忘在角落里的人们的生活，让他们从你们这些具有奉献精神的年轻人身上看到真实的美国，看到我们的力量，我们的美德、我们的多样性、我们的动力以及我们的理想。

　　I know starting your careers in troubled times is a challenge, but it is also a privilege, because it's moments like these that force us to try harder and dig deeper, and to discover gifts we never knew we had, to find the greatness that lies within each of us.

　　我知道，在复杂的形势下开创你们的事业对你们而言是一个挑战。但也是一种特殊的荣幸。因为，只有在这样的时刻，我们才会更加努力，去发掘更深刻的东西，去发现自己从未发掘的天赋，发现我们内心的伟大之处。

　　So, don't ever shy away from that endeavor. Don't stop adding to your body of work. I can promise that you will be the better for that continued effort, as will this nation that we all love.

　　所以，千万不要逃避这种尝试。不要停止，为自己的事业增光彩吧！我可以保证，通过不断的努力，你们将有所进步，我们挚爱的祖国也会将变得更加美好。

　　Congratulations, Class of 2009, on your graduation. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

　　祝贺你们，2009届的毕业生们，祝贺你们顺利毕业！上帝保佑你们！上帝保佑美利坚合众国。

　　奥巴马给我们的启示

　　And Class of 2009, that's why we're going to need your help. We need young people like you to step up. We need your daring, we need your enthusiasm, we need your energy, we need your imagination.

　　所以，2009届的毕业生们，我们需要你们的帮助。我们需要你们这样的年轻人行动起来。我们需要你们的果敢、热情、活力和想象力。

　　That's a great motto for all of us——find somebody to be successful for. Raise their hopes. Rise to their needs.

　　这句话对于我们所有人来说都是至理箴言，寻找一些人，并为了他们的希望和需要而成功。

　　You may have setbacks and you may have failures, but you're not done. You're not even getting started, not by a long shot.

　　你们也许会遇到挫折和失败，但这不意味着你们的工作已经结束，你们甚至还没有开始。

　　So, don't ever shy away from that endeavor. Don't stop adding to your body of work. I can promise that you will be the better for that continued effort, as will this nation that we all love.

　　所以，千万不要逃避这种尝试。不要停止，为自己的事业增光彩吧！我可以保证，通过不断的努力，你们将有所进步，我们挚爱的祖国也会将变得更加美好。

1 ripple   

n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进

参考例句：

• The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake.石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。
• The small ripple split upon the beach.小小的涟漪卷来，碎在沙滩上。

2 rippled   

使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The lake rippled gently. 湖面轻轻地泛起涟漪。
• The wind rippled the surface of the cornfield. 微风吹过麦田，泛起一片麦浪。

3 decency   

n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重

参考例句：

• His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。