【文檔尺寸：A4字體：仿宋標題字號：20正文字號：12】名人英語演講稿

名人英語演講稿篇1Daretocompete.Daretocare.Daretodream.Daretolove.Practicetheartofmakingpossible.Andnomatterwhathappens,evenifyouhearshoutsbehind,keepgoing.ItissuchanhonorandpleasureformetobebackatYale,especiallyontheoccasionofthe300thanniversary.Ihavehadsomanymemoriesofmytimehere,andasNickwasspeakingIthoughtabouthowIendedupatYaleLawSchool.Andittellsalittlebitabouthowmuchprogresswe’vemade.WhatIthinkmostaboutwhenIthinkofYaleisnotjustthepoliticallychargedatmosphereandnotevenjustthesuperblegaleducationthatIreceived.ItwasatYalethatIbeganworkthathasbeenatthecoreofwhatIhavecaredabouteversince.IbeganworkingwithNewHavenlegalservicesrepresentingchildren.AndIstudiedchilddevelopment,abuseandneglectattheYaleNewHavenHospitalandtheChildStudyCenter.IwasluckyenoughtoreceiveacivilrightsinternshipwithMarianWrightEdelmanattheChildren’sDefenseFund,whereIwenttoworkafterIgraduated.Thoseexperiencesfueledinmeapassiontoworkforthebenefitofchildren,particularlythemostvulnerable.Now,lookingback,thereisnowaythatIcouldhavepredictedwhatpathmylifewouldhavetaken.Ididn’tsitaroundthelawschool,saying,well,youknow,IthinkI’llgraduateandthenI’llgotoworkattheChildren’sDefenseFund,andthentheimpeachmentinquiry,andNixonretiredorresigns,I’llgotoArkansas.Ididn’tthinklikethat.Iwastakingeachdayatatime.But,I’vebeenveryfortunatebecauseI’vealwayshadanideainmymindaboutwhatIthoughtwasimportantandwhatgavemylifemeaningandpurpose.Asetofvaluesandbeliefsthathavehelpedmenavigatetheshoals,thesometimesverytreacheroussea,toilluminatemyowntruedesires,despitethatotherssayaboutwhatlshouldcareaboutandbelievein.Apassiontosucceedatwhatlthoughtwasimportantandchildrenhavealwaysprovidedthatlonestar,thatguidinglight.Becauselhavethatabsoluteconvictionthateverychild,especiallyinthis,themostblessedofnationsthathaseverexistedonthefaceofearth,thateverychilddeservestheopportunitytoliveuptohisorherGod-givenpotential.Butyouknowthatbeliefandconviction-itmaymakeforapersonalmissionstatement,butstandingalone,nottranslatedintoaction,itmeansverylittletoanyoneelse,particularlytothoseforwhomyouhavethoseconcerns.WhenIwasthinkingaboutrunningfortheUnitedStatesSenate-whichwassuchanenormousdecisiontomake,oneInevercouldhavedreamedthatIwouldhavebeenmakingwhenIwashereoncampus-IvisitedaschoolinNewYorkCityandImetayoungwoman,whowasastarathlete.IwastherebecauseofBillyJeanKingpromotinganHBOspecialaboutwomeninsportscalled“Daretocompete.”ItwasaboutTitleIXandhowwefinally,thankstogovernmentaction,providedopportunitiestogirlsandwomeninsports.AndalthoughIplayednotverywellatintramuralsports,Ihavealwaysbeenastrongsupporterofwomeninsports.AndIwasintroducedbythisyoungwoman,andasIwenttoshakeherhandsheobviouslyhadbeenreadingthenewspapersaboutpeoplesayingIshouldorshouldn’trunfortheSenate.AndIwascongratulatingheronthespeechshehadjustmadeandsheheldontomyhandandshesaid,“Daretocompete,Mrs.Clinton.Daretocompete.”Itookthattoheartbecauseitishardtocompetesometimes,especiallyinpublicways,whenyourfailuresarethereforeveryonetoseeandyoudon’tknowwhatisgoingtohappenfromonedaytothenext.Andyetsomuchoflife,whetherweliketoacceptitornot,iscompetingwithourselvestobethebestwecanbe,beinginvolvedinclassesorprofessionsorjustlife,whereweknowwearecompetingwithothers.ItookheradviceandIdidcompetebecauseIchosetodoso.Andthebiggestchoicesthatyou’llfaceinyourlifewillbeyoursalonetomake.I’msureyou’llreceivegoodadvice.You’regotagreateducationtogobackandreflectaboutwhatisrightforyou,butyoueventuallywillhavetochooseandIhopethatyouwilldaretocompete.AndbythatIdon’tmeanthekindofcutthroatcompetitionthatistoooftencharacterizedbywhatisdrivingAmericatoday.Imeanthesmallvoiceinsideyouthatsaystoyou,youcandoit,youcantakethisrisk,youcantakethisnextstep.Anditdoesn’tmeanthatoncehavingmadethatchoiceyouwillalwayssucceed.Infact,youwon’t.Therearesetbacksandyouwillexperiencedifficultdisappointments.Youwillbesloweddownandsometimesthebreathwilljustbeknockedoutofyou.Butifyoucarrywithyouthevaluesandbeliefsthatyoucanmakeadifferenceinyourownlife,firstandforemost,andtheninthelivesofothers.Youcangetbackup,youcankeepgoing.Butitisalsoimportant,asIhavefound,nottotakeyourselftooseriously,becauseafterall,everyoneofusheretoday,noneofusisdeservingoffullcredit.Ithinkeverydayoftheblessingsmybirthgavemewithoutanydoingofmyown.Ichoseneithermyfamilynormycountry,buttheyasmuchasanythingI’veeverdone,determinedmycourse.Youcomparemyoryourcircumstanceswiththoseofthemajorityofpeoplewho’veeverlivedorwhoarelivingrightnow,theytoooftenarebornknowingtoowellwhattheirfutureswillbe.Theylackthefreedomtochoosetheirlife’spath.They’reimprisonedbycircumstancesofpovertyandignorance,bigotry,disease,hunger,oppressionandwar.So,daretocompete,yes,butmaybeevenmoredifficult,daretocare.Daretocareaboutpeoplewhoneedourhelptosucceedandfulfilltheirownlives.Therearesomanyoutthereandsometimesallittakesisthesimplestofgesturesorhelpinghandsandmanyofyouunderstandthatalready.Iknowthatthenumbersofgraduatesinthelast20yearshaveworkedincommunityorganizations,havetutored,havecommittedthemselvestoreligiousactivities.Youhavebeentheretryingtoservebecauseyouhavebelievedboththatitwastherightthingtodoandbecauseitgavesomethingbacktoyou.Youhavedaredtocare.Well,daretocaretofightforequaljusticeforall,forequalpayforwomen,againsthatecrimesandbigotry.Daretocareaboutpublicschoolswithoutqualifiedteachersoradequateresources.Daretocareaboutprotectingourenvironment.Daretocareaboutthe10millionchildreninourcountrywholackhealthinsurance.Daretocareabouttheoneandahalfmillionchildrenwhohaveaparentinjail.ThesevenmillionpeoplewhosufferfromHIV/AIDS.AndthankyouforcaringenoughtodemandthatournationdomoretohelpthosethataresufferingthroughoutthisworldwithHIV/AIDS,topreventthispandemicfromspreadingevenfurther.AndI’llalsoadd,dareenoughtocareaboutourpoliticalprocess.Youknow,asIgoandspeakwithstudentsI’mimpressedsomuch,notonlyinformalsettings,oncampuses,butwithmydaughterandherfriends,abouthowmuchyoucare,abouthowwillingyouaretovolunteerandserve.Youmayhavemissedthelastwaveoftherevolution,butyou’veunderstoodthatthemunityrevolutionisthereforyoueverysingleday.Andyou’vebeenwillingtobepartofremarkinglivesinourcommunity.Andyet,thereisarealresistance,aturningawayfromthepoliticalprocess.Ihopethatsomeofyouwillbepublicservantsandwillevenrunforofficeyourself,nottowinapositiontomakeandimpressiononyourfriendsatyour20threunion,butbecauseyouunderstandhowimportantitisforeachofusascitizenstomakeacommitmenttoourdemocracy.Yourgeneration,thefirstonebornafterthesocialupheavalsofthe60’sand70’s,inthemidstofthetechnologicaladvancesofthe80’sand90’s,areinheritinganeconomy,asocietyandagovernmentthathasyettounderstandfully,orevencometogripswith,ourrapidlychangingworld.Andsobringyourvaluesandexperiencesandinsightsintopolitics.Daretohelpmake,notjustadifferenceinpolitics,butcreateadifferentpolitics.Somehavecalledyouthegenerationofchoice.You’vebeenraisedwithmultiplechoicetests,multiplechannels,multiplewebsitesandmultiplelifestyles.You’vegrownupchoosingamongalternativesthatwereeithernotimagined,createdoravailabletopeopleinpriorgenerations.You’vebeeninvestedwithfarmorepersonalpowertocustomizeyourlife,tomakemorefreechoicesabouthowtolivethanwaseverthoughtpossible.AndIthinkasIlookatallthesurveysandresearchthatisdone,yourchoicesreflectnotonlyfreedom,butpersonalresponsibility.Thesocialindicators,nottheheadlines,thesocialindicatorstellapositivestory:druguseandcheatingandarrestsbeingdown,beenpregnancyandsuicides,drunkdrivingdeathsbeingdown.Communityserviceandreligiousinvolvementbeingup.Butifyoulookattheareaofvotingamong18to29yearolds,thenumberstellafarmoretroublingtale.ManyofyouIknowbelievethatserviceandcommunityvolunteerismisabetterwayofsolvingtheissuesfacingourcountrythanpoliticalengagement,becauseyoubelieve-chooseoneofthefollowingmultiplesorchoosethemall-governmenteithercan’tunderstandorwon’tmaketherightchoicesbecauseofpoliticalpressures,inefficiency,incompetenceorbigmoneyinfluence.Well,Iadmitthereisenoughtruthinthatcritiquetojustifyfeelingdisconnectedandalienated.Butatbottom,that’sapersonalcop-outandanationalperil.Politicalconditionsmaximizetheconditionsforindividualopportunityandresponsibilityaswellascommunity.AmericorpsandthePeaceCorpsexistbecauseofpoliticaldecisions.Ourair,water,landandfoodwillbecleanandsafebecauseofpoliticalchoices.OurabilitytocurediseaseorlogontotheInternethavebeenadvancedbecauseofpoliticallydeterminedinvestments.EthniccleansinginKosovoendedbecauseofpoliticalleadership.Yourparentsandgrandparentstraveledherebymeansofgovernmentbuiltandsubsidizedtransportationsystems.ManyusedGIBillsorgovernmentloans,asIdid,toattendcollege.Now,Icould,asyoumightguess,goonandon,butthepointistoremindusallthatgovernmentisusandeachgenerationhastostakeitsclaim.And,asstakeholders,youwillhavetodecidewhetherornottomakethechoicetoparticipate.Itishardanditis,bringingchangeinademocracy,particularlynow.There’ssomuchaboutourmoderntimesthatconspiretoloweroursights,toweakenourvision-asindividualsandcommunitiesandevennations.Itisnotthevastconspiracyyoumayhaveheardabout;ratherit’sasilentconspiracyofcynicismandindifferenceandalienationthatweseeeveryday,inourpopularcultureandinourprodigiousconsumerism.ButasmanyhavesaidbeforeandasVaclavHavelhassaidtomemorably,“Itcannotsufficejusttoinventnewmachines,newregulationsandnewinstitutions.ItisnecessarytounderstanddifferentlyandmoreperfectlythetruepurposeofourexistenceonthisEarthandofourdeeds.”AndIthinkwearecalledontoreject,inthistimeofblessingsthatweenjoy,thosewhowilltearusapartandtearusdownandinsteadtoliberateourGod-givenspirit,bybeingwillingtodaretodreamofabetterworld.Duringmycampaign,whentimesweretoughanddayswerelongIusedtothinkabouttheexampleofHarrietTubman,aheroicNewYorker,a19thcenturyMoses,whoriskedherlifetobringhundredsofslavestofreedom.ShewouldsaytothosewhoshegatheredupintheSouthwhereshekeptgoingbackyearafteryearfromthesafetyofAuburn,NewYork,thatnomatterwhathappens,theyhadtokeepgoing.Iftheyheardshoutsbehindthem,theyhadtokeepgoing.Iftheyheardgunfireordogs,theyhadtokeepgoingtofreedom.Well,thosearen’ttherisksweface.Itismorethesilenceandapathyandindifferencethatdogsourheels.Thirty-twoyearsago,IspokeatmyowngraduationfromWellesley,whereIdidcallonmyfellowclassmatestorejectthenotionoflimitationsonourabilitytoeffectchangeandinsteadtoembracetheideathatthegoalofeducationshouldbehumanliberationandthefreedomtopracticewithalltheskillofourbeingtheartofmakingpossible.Forafterall,ourfateistobefree.Tochoosecompetitionoverapathy,caringoverindifference,visionovermyopia,andloveoverhate.Justasthisisaspecialtimeinyourlives,itisformeaswellbecausemydaughterwillbegraduatinginfourweeks,graduatingalsofromawonderfulplacewithagreateducationandbeginninganewlife.AndasIthinkaboutalltheparentsandgrandparentswhoareoutthere,Ihaveasenseofwhattheirfeeling.Theirheartsareleapingwithjoy,butit’shardtokeeptearsincheckbecausethepresenceofourchildrenatatimeandplacesuchasthisisreallyafulfillmentofourownAmericandreams.Well,Iapplaudyouandallofyourlove,commitmentandhardwork,justasIapplaudyourdaughtersandsonsfortheirs.AndIleavethesegraduateswiththesamemessageIhopetoleavewithmygraduate.Daretocompete.Daretocare.Daretodream.Daretolove.Practicetheartofmakingpossible.Andnomatterwhathappens,evenifyouhearshoutsbehind,keepgoing.ThankyouandGodblessyouall.名人英語演講稿篇2Myfellowcitizens:Istandheretodayhumbledbythetaskbeforeus,gratefulforthetrustyouhavebestowed,mindfulofthesacrificesbornebyourancestors.IthankPresidentBushforhisservicetoournation,aswellasthegenerosityandcooperationhehasshownthroughoutthistransition.Forty-fourAmericanshavenowtakenthepresidentialoath.Thewordshavebeenspokenduringrisingtidesofprosperityandthestillwatersofpeace.Yet,everysooftentheoathistakenamidstgatheringcloudsandragingstorms.Atthesemoments,Americahascarriedonnotsimplybecauseoftheskillorvisionofthoseinhighoffice,butbecausewethepeoplehaveremainedfaithfultotheidealsofourforebears,andtruetoourfoundingdocuments.Soithasbeen.SoitmustbewiththisgenerationofAmericans.Thatweareinthemidstofcrisisisnowwellunderstood.Ournationisatwar,againstafar-reachingnetworkofviolenceandhatred.Oureconomyisbadlyweakened,aconsequenceofgreedandirresponsibilityonthepartofsome,butalsoourcollectivefailuretomakehardchoicesandpreparethenationforanewage.Homeshavebeenlost;jobsshed;businessesshuttered.Ourhealthcareistoocostly;ourschoolsfailtoomany;andeachdaybringsfurtherevidencethatthewaysweuseenergystrengthenouradversariesandthreatenourplanet.Thesearetheindicatorsofcrisis,subjecttodataandstatistics.Lessmeasurablebutnolessprofoundisasappingofconfidenceacrossourland—anaggingfearthatAmerica'sdeclineisinevitable,andthatthenextgenerationmustloweritssights.TodayIsaytoyouthatthechallengeswefacearereal.Theyareseriousandtheyaremany.Theywillnotbemeteasilyorinashortspanoftime.Butknowthis,America—theywillbemet.Onthisday,wegatherbecausewehavechosenhopeoverfear,unityofpurposeoverconflictanddiscord.Onthisday,wecometoproclaimanendtothepettygrievancesandfalsepromises,therecriminationsandwornoutdogmas,thatforfartoolonghavestrangledourpolitics.Weremainayoungnation,butinthewordsofScripture,thetimehascometosetasidechildishthings.Thetimehascometoreaffirmourenduringspirit;tochooseourbetterhistory;tocarryforwardthatpreciousgift,thatnobleidea,passedonfromgenerationtogeneration:theGod-givenpromisethatallareequal,allarefreeandalldeserveachancetopursuetheirfullmeasureofhappiness.Inreaffirmingthegreatnessofournation,weunderstandthatgreatnessisneveragiven.Itmustbeearned.Ourjourneyhasneverbeenoneofshortcutsorsettlingforless.Ithasnotbeenthepathforthefaint-hearted—forthosewhopreferleisureoverwork,orseekonlythepleasuresofrichesandfame.Rather,ithasbeentherisk-takers,thedoers,themakersofthings—somecelebratedbutmoreoftenmenandwomenobscureintheirlabor,whohavecarriedusupthelong,ruggedpathtowardsprosperityandfreedom.Forus,theypackeduptheirfewworldlypossessionsandtraveledacrossoceansinsearchofanewlife.Forus,theytoiledinsweatshopsandsettledtheWest;enduredthelashofthewhipandplowedthehardearth.Forus,theyfoughtanddied,inplaceslikeConcordandGettysburg;NormandyandKheSahn.Timeandagainthesemenandwomenstruggledandsacrificedandworkedtilltheirhandswererawsothatwemightliveabetterlife.TheysawAmericaasbiggerthanthesumofourindividualambitions;greaterthanallthedifferencesofbirthorwealthorfaction.Thisisthejourneywecontinuetoday.Weremainthemostprosperous,powerfulnationonEarth.Ourworkersarenolessproductivethanwhenthiscrisisbegan.Ourmindsarenolessinventive,ourgoodsandservicesnolessneededthantheywerelastweekorlastmonthorlastyear.Ourcapacityremainsundiminished.Butourtimeofstandingpat,ofprotectingnarrowinterestsandputtingoffunpleasantdecisions—thattimehassurelypassed.Startingtoday,wemustpickourselvesup,dustourselvesoff,andbeginagaintheworkofremakingAmerica.Foreverywherewelook,thereisworktobedone.Thestateoftheeconomycallsforaction,boldandswift,andwewillact—notonlytocreatenewjobs,buttolayanewfoundationforgrowth.Wewillbuildtheroadsandbridges,theelectricgridsanddigitallinesthatfeedourcommerceandbindustogether.Wewillrestoresciencetoitsrightfulplace,andwieldtechnology'swonderstoraisehealthcare'squalityandloweritscost.Wewillharnessthesunandthewindsandthesoiltofuelourcarsandrunourfactories.Andwewilltransformourschoolsandcollegesanduniversitiestomeetthedemandsofanewage.Allthiswecando.Allthiswewilldo.Now,therearesomewhoquestionthescaleofourambitions—whosuggestthatoursystemcannottoleratetoomanybigplans.Theirmemoriesareshort.Fortheyhaveforgottenwhatthiscountryhasalreadydone;whatfreemenandwomencanachievewhenimaginationisjoinedtocommonpurpose,andnecessitytocourage.Whatthecynicsfailtounderstandisthatthegroundhasshiftedbeneaththem—thatthestalepoliticalargumentsthathaveconsumedusforsolongnolongerapply.Thequestionweasktodayisnotwhetherourgovernmentistoobigortoosmall,butwhetheritworks—whetherithelpsfamiliesfindjobsatadecentwage,caretheycanafford,aretirementthatisdignified.Wheretheanswerisyes,weintendtomoveforward.Wheretheanswerisno,programswillend.Thoseofuswhomanagethepublic'sdollarswillbeheldtoaccount—tospendwisely,reformbadhabits,anddoourbusinessinthelightofday—becauseonlythencanwerestorethevitaltrustbetweenapeopleandtheirgovernment.Noristhequestionbeforeuswhetherthemarketisaforceforgoodorill.Itspowertogeneratewealthandexpandfreedomisunmatched,butthiscrisishasremindedusthatwithoutawatchfuleye,themarketcanspinoutofcontrol—andthatanationcannotprosperlongwhenitfavorsonlytheprosperous.Thesuccessofoureconomyhasalwaysdependednotjustonthesizeofourgrossdomesticproduct,butonthereachofourprosperity;onourabilitytoextendopportunitytoeverywillingheart—notoutofcharity,butbecauseitisthesurestroutetoourcommongood.Asforourcommondefense,werejectasfalsethechoicebetweenoursafetyandourideals.Ourfoundingfathers...ourfoundfathers,facedwithperilswecanscarcelyimagine,draftedachartertoassuretheruleoflawandtherightsofman,acharterexpandedbythebloodofgenerations.Thoseidealsstilllighttheworld,andwewillnotgivethemupforexpedience'ssake.Andsotoalltheotherpeoplesandgovernmentswhoarewatchingtoday,fromthegrandestcapitalstothesmallvillagewheremyfatherwasborn:knowthatAmericaisafriendofeachnationandeveryman,woman,andchildwhoseeksafutureofpeaceanddignity,andthatwearereadytoleadoncemore.Recallthatearliergenerationsfaceddownfascismandcommunismnotjustwithmissilesandtanks,butwithsturdyalliancesandenduringconvictions.Theyunderstoodthatourpoweralonecannotprotectus,nordoesitentitleustodoasweplease.Instead,theyknewthatourpowergrowsthroughitsprudentuse;oursecurityemanatesfromthejustnessofourcause,theforceofourexample,thetemperingqualitiesofhumilityandrestraint.Wearethekeepersofthislegacy.Guidedbytheseprinciplesoncemore,wecanmeetthosenewthreatsthatdemandevengreatereffort—evengreatercooperationandunderstandingbetweennations.WewillbegintoresponsiblyleaveIraqtoitspeople,andforgeahard-earnedpeaceinAfghanistan.Witholdfriendsandformerfoes,wewillworktirelesslytolessenthenuclearthreat,androllbackthespecterofawarmingplanet.Wewillnotapologizeforourwayoflife,norwillwewaverinitsdefense,andforthosewhoseektoadvancetheiraimsbyinducingterrorandslaughteringinnocents,wesaytoyounowthatourspiritisstrongerandcannotbebroken;youcannotoutlastus,andwewilldefeatyou.Forweknowthatourpatchworkheritageisastrength,notaweakness.WeareanationofChristiansandMuslims,JewsandHindus—andnon-believers.Weareshapedbyeverylanguageandculture,drawnfromeveryendofthisEarth;andbecausewehavetastedthebitterswillofcivilwarandsegregation,andemergedfromthatdarkchapterstrongerandmoreunited,wecannothelpbutbelievethattheoldhatredsshallsomedaypass;thatthelinesoftribeshallsoondissolve;thatastheworldgrowssmaller,ourcommonhumanityshallrevealitself;andthatAmericamustplayitsroleinusheringinaneweraofpeace.TotheMuslimworld,weseekanewwayforward,basedonmutualinterestandmutualrespect.Tothoseleadersaroundtheglobewhoseektosowconflict,orblametheirsociety'sillsontheWest—knowthatyourpeoplewilljudgeyouonwhatyoucanbuild,notwhatyoudestroy.Tothosewhoclingtopowerthroughcorruptionanddeceitandthesilencingofdissent,knowthatyouareonthewrongsideofhistory;butthatwewillextendahandifyouarewillingtounclenchyourfist.Tothepeopleofpoornations,wepledgetoworkalongsideyoutomakeyourfarmsflourishandletcleanwatersflow;tonourishstarvedbodiesandfeedhungryminds.Andtothosenationslikeoursthatenjoyrelativeplenty,wesaywecannolongeraffordindifferencetothesufferingoutsideourborders;norcanweconsumetheworld'sresourceswithoutregardtoeffect.Fortheworldhaschanged,andwemustchangewithit.Asweconsidertheroadthatunfoldsbeforeus,werememberwithhumblegratitudethosebraveAmericanswho,atthisveryhour,patrolfar-offdesertsanddistantmountains.Theyhavesomethingtotellus,justasthefallenheroeswholieinArlingtonwhisperthroughtheages.Wehonorthemnotonlybecausetheyareguardiansofourliberty,butbecausetheyembodythespiritofservice;awillingnesstofindmeaninginsomethinggreaterthanthemselves.Andyet,atthismoment—amomentthatwilldefineageneration—itispreciselythisspiritthatmustinhabitusall.Forasmuchasgovernmentcandoandmustdo,itisultimatelythefaithanddeterminationoftheAmericanpeopleuponwhichthisnationrelies.Itisthekindnesstotakeinastrangerwhentheleveesbreak,theselflessnessofworkerswhowouldrathercuttheirhoursthanseeafriendlosetheirjobwhichseesusthroughourdarkesthours.Itisthefirefighter'scouragetostormastairwayfilledwithsmoke,butalsoaparent'swillingnesstonurtureachild,thatfinallydecidesourfate.Ourchallengesmaybenew.Theinstrumentswithwhichwemeetthemmaybenew.Butthosevaluesuponwhichoursuccessdepends—hardworkandhonesty,courageandfairplay,toleranceandcuriosity,loyaltyandpatriotism—thesethingsareold.Thesethingsaretrue.Theyhavebeenthequietforceofprogressthroughoutourhistory.Whatisdemandedthenisareturntothesetruths.Whatisrequiredofusnowisaneweraofresponsibility—arecognition,onthepartofeveryAmerican,thatwehavedutiestoourselves,ournation,andtheworld,dutiesthatwedonotgrudginglyacceptbutratherseizegladly,firmintheknowledgethatthereisnothingsosatisfyingtothespirit,sodefiningofourcharacter,thangivingouralltoadifficulttask.Thisisthepriceandthepromiseofcitizenship.Thisisthesourceofourconfidence—theknowledgethatGodcallsonustoshapeanuncertaindestiny.Thisisthemeaningofourlibertyandourcreed—whymenandwomenandchildrenofeveryraceandeveryfaithcanjoinincelebrationacrossthismagnificentMall,andwhyamanwhosefatherlessthansixtyyearsagomightnothavebeenservedatalocalrestaurantcannowstandbeforeyoutotakeamostsacredoath.Soletusmarkthisdaywithremembrance,ofwhoweareandhowfarwehavetraveled.IntheyearofAmerica'sbirth,inthecoldestofmonths,asmallbandofpatriotshuddledbydyingcampfiresontheshoresofanicyriver.Thecapitalwasabandoned.Theenemywasadvancing.Thesnowwasstainedwithblood.Atamomentwhentheoutcomeofourrevolutionwasmostindoubt,thefatherofournationorderedthesewordsbereadtothepeople:"Letitbetoldtothefutureworld...thatinthedepthofwinter,whennothingbuthopeandvirtuecouldsurvive...thatthecityandthecountry,alarmedatonecommondanger,cameforthtomeet(it)."America,inthefaceofourcommondangers,inthiswinterofourhardship,letusrememberthesetimelesswords.Withhopeandvirtue,letusbraveoncemoretheicycurrents,andendurewhatstormsmaycome.Letitbesaidbyourchildren'schildrenthatwhenweweretestedwerefusedtoletthisjourneyend,thatwedidnotturnbacknordidwefalter;andwitheyesfixedonthehorizonandGod'sgraceuponus,wecarriedforththatgreatgiftoffreedomanddelivereditsafelytofutu