At his trial in 1964, Nelson Mandela closed his statement from the dock saying, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” 1964年纳尔逊·曼德拉受审时,在被告席上结束陈述时说:“我反对白人统治,也反对黑人统治。我珍视这样一个民主而自由的社会理想:所有人和谐共处,享有平等机会。这是我希望为之生活、为之奋斗的理想。但如有必要,这也是我准备为之牺牲生命的理想。”
And Nelson Mandela lived for that ideal, and he made it real. He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today, he has gone home. And we have lost one of the most influential, courageous, and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth. He no longer belongs to us -- he belongs to the ages. 纳尔逊·曼德拉终生践行这一理想,并使它成为现实。他取得的成就超出了对任何人的期待。今天,他回归了故土;而我们失去了一位在世时与我们相伴的、最具影响力、最勇敢、最善良的人类之一。他不再属于我们——他属于时代。
Through his fierce dignity and unbending will to sacrifice his own freedom for the freedom of others, Madiba transformed South Africa -- and moved all of us. His journey from a prisoner to a President embodied the promise that human beings -- and countries -- can change for the better. His commitment to transfer power and reconcile with those who jailed him set 凭借坚韧的尊严,以及为他人自由牺牲自身自由的不屈意志,马迪巴改变了南非,也感动了我们所有人。他从囚徒走向总统的历程,体现了这样的希望:人类和国家都能够变得更好。他决心移交权力,并与曾将他关押的人和解,这一选择树立了全人类都应追求的典范。
an example that all humanity should aspire to, whether in the lives of nations or our own personal lives. And the fact that he did it all with grace and good humor, and an ability to acknowledge his own imperfections, only makes the man that much more remarkable. As he once said, “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.” 无论在国家命运还是个人生活中,这都是全人类应当追求的榜样。他以从容和幽默完成这一切,也能坦然承认自己的不完美,这使这位伟人更加令人敬佩。他曾说:“如果你认为圣人是一个不断努力的罪人,那么我就是圣人;除此之外,我并不是圣人。”
I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela's life. My very first political action, the first thing I ever did that involved an issue or a policy or politics, was a protest against apartheid. I studied his words and his writings. The day that he was released from prison gave me a sense of what human beings can do when they’re guided by their hopes and not by their fears. And like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set, and so long as I live I will do what I can to learn from him. 我是从纳尔逊·曼德拉一生中获得启发的无数人之一。我第一次参与政治,第一次因某个议题、政策或政治事件采取行动,就是抗议种族隔离。我研读过他的言论和著作。他获释出狱的那一天,让我懂得:当人类由希望而非恐惧引领时,能够成就怎样的事情。和世界各地许多人一样,我无法完全想象没有曼德拉榜样的自己;只要我还活着,就会尽力向他学习。
To Graça Machel and his family, Michelle and I extend our deepest sympathy and gratitude for sharing this extraordinary man with us. His life’s work meant long days away from those who loved him the most. And I only hope that the time spent with him these last few weeks brought peace and comfort to his family. 我向格拉萨·马谢尔及他的家人致以最深切的慰问和感谢,感谢他们与全世界分享了曼德拉的一生。我们也向曼德拉的家人致敬,感谢他们让他能够把生命献给一项伟大事业。
To the people of South Africa, we draw strength from the example of renewal, and reconciliation, and resilience that you made real. A free South Africa at peace with itself -- that’s an example to the world, and that’s Madiba’s legacy to the nation he loved. 南非人民应从复兴、和解与坚韧的典范中汲取力量,也应感谢曼德拉为国家留下的自由与尊严。全世界都因他的勇气和宽恕而受益。
We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again. So it falls to us as best we can to forward the example that he set: to make decisions guided not by hate, but by love; to never discount the difference that one person can make; to strive for a future that is worthy of his sacrifice. 我们或许再也不会看到像纳尔逊·曼德拉这样的人。因此,我们应尽己所能传承他的遗产,继续追求自由、正义与和解,并在自己的生活中实践他所体现的信念。
For now, let us pause and give thanks for the fact that Nelson Mandela lived -- a man who took history in his hands, and bent the arc of the moral universe toward justice. May God Bless his memory and keep him in peace. 现在,让我们停下来,感谢纳尔逊·曼德拉曾经活过。他把历史掌握在手中,并以更好的方向改变了历史。愿他安息,愿他的家人和南非人民得到安慰。