公众人物毕业演讲 第401期:奥巴马2012年哥伦比亚大学毕业演讲(19)

 　　A family of folks who didn't quit because she saw her dad get up and go to work every day even though he never finished college.

　　一个不轻易退却的家庭因为她看到她的父亲每天一大早起来去上班尽管他从未念完大学

　　Even though he had crippling MS She saw her mother, even though she never finished college in that school, that urban school.

　　尽管他患有影响行动的多发性硬化症她看到 尽管她的母亲从未念完大学但在那个学校 那个贫民区的学校

　　Every day making sure Michelle and her brother were getting the education they deserved Michelle saw how her parents never quit.

　　她每天都确保米歇尔和她的哥哥受到他们应该得到的教育米歇尔看到她的父母从不放弃

　　They never indulged in self-pity no matter how stacked the odds¹ were against them They didn't quit.

　　他们从不沉溺于自怜不管他们面临多么不利的境况他们从不放弃

　　Those are the folks who inspire me People ask me sometimes who inspires you, Mr. President?.

　　正是这些人激励着我人们有时问我总统先生 是谁激励着你

　　Those quiet heroes all across this country some of your parents and grandparents who are sitting here no fanfare², no articles written about them.

　　是这个国家各地那些默默耕耘的英雄今天在座的你们一些人的父母和祖父母他们不张扬 没有文章报道他们

　　They just persevere³ They just do their jobs They meet their responsibilities.They don't quit.

　　他们只是坚持不懈他们只是做好本职工作他们履行自己的责任 他们不放弃

　　I'm only here because of them They may not have set out to change the world but in small, important ways, they did.

　　正是因为有他们我才站到这里他们或许并没有从一开始就要改变世界但他们以一点一滴的重要方式 改变了世界

　　They certainly changed mine So whether it's starting a business or running for office, or raising an amazing family.

　　他们无疑改变了我的世界因此 无论是创办一家企业竞选公职 还是抚养一个美好的家庭

　　Remember that making your mark on the world is hard It takes patience. It takes commitment.

　　请记住 要在这个世界上留下你的影响不是一件轻而易举的事情它需要耐心 它需要投入

　　It comes with plenty of setbacks and it comes with plenty of failures But whenever you feel that creeping cynicism whenever you hear those voices say you can't make a difference.

　　随之而来的是大量挫折 以及无数次的失败但每当你感觉到那种迎面扑来的冷嘲热讽每当你听到人们说你无法改变现状

1 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

2 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

3 persevere   

v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• They are determined to persevere in the fight.他们决心坚持战斗。
• It is strength of character enabled him to persevere.他那坚强的性格使他能够坚持不懈。