忽视这一时刻的紧迫性，对于国家将会是毁灭性的。这个充斥着黑人义愤填膺的酷暑，在自由平等的爽朗秋天来临之前，是不会过去的。1963年不意味着斗争的结束，而是斗争的开端。

　　And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

　　如果国家依然照旧行事，那么那些希望黑人只需出出气就会心满意足的人将大失所望。在黑人得到公民应享有的权利之前，美国既不会安宁，也不会平静。在光明灿烂的正义之日来临之前，反抗的旋风将会继续震撼我们国家的基石。

　　But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

　　但是，有一些话我必须要对站在通向正义之宫温暖门槛上的人们说：在争取合法地位的过程中，我们千万不要因错误行事而导致犯罪。我们切不要吞饮仇恨辛酸的苦酒，来解除对于自由的饮渴。