名校励志英语演讲 174:人人都能成为总统(1)

 　　President Levin, thank you very much. Dean Brodhead, fellows of the Yale Corporation, fellow Yale parents, families, and graduates: It's a special privilege to receive this honorary degree. I was proud 33 years ago to receive my first Yale degree. I'm even prouder that in your eyes I've earned this one.

　　非常感谢，莱文校长。布罗德黑德院长，耶鲁董事会的全体成员，耶鲁毕业生的家长们，各位毕业生们：获得这个荣誉学位让我感觉非常荣幸。我很自豪，在33年前获得了第一个耶鲁学位。而今天，在你们面前获得这一荣誉学位让我更加骄傲无比。

　　I congratulate my fellow honorees. I'm pleased to share this honor with such a distinguished¹ group. I'm particularly pleased to be here with my friend, the former of Mexico.

　　祝贺你们，与我同获殊荣的人们。我很高兴能和如此杰出的团体共享这一荣誉，尤其是能和我的朋友，墨西哥前总统在一起分享。

　　I congratulate all the parents who are here. It's a glorious day when your child graduates from college. It's a great day for you; it's a great day for your wallet.

　　我要恭喜所有在座的家长们：恭喜你们辛勤栽培后享受收获的日子，也是你们钱包解放的大好日子！

　　Most important, congratulations to the class of 2001. To those of you who received honors, awards, and distinctions, I say, well done. And to the C students I say, you, too, can be President of the United States.

　　最重要的是，我要恭喜201届的耶鲁毕业生们：对于那些表现杰出、获得各种奖项和荣誉的同学，我要说，你们真棒！对于那些C等生，我要说，你们将来也可以当总统！

　　A Yale degree is worth a lot, as I often remind Dick Cheney who studied here, but left a little early. So now we know—if you graduate from Yale, you become President. If you drop out, you get to be Vice² President.

　　耶鲁学位价值不菲。我时常这样提醒迪克·切尼（美国布什政府时期的副总统），他也曾在耶鲁就读，只是过早辍学了。所以我想提醒整就读于耶鲁的莘莘学子，如果你们从耶鲁顺利毕业，你们也许可以当上总统’但如果你们中途辍学，那么你们就只能当副总统了。

　　I appreciate so very much the chance to say a few words on this occasion. I know Yale has a tradition of having no commencement speaker. I also know that you've carved out a single exception.

　　我很荣幸能有机会在这个场合发表演讲。我知道，耶鲁向来不邀请毕业典礼演讲人，但也有例外。

1 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。