玛丽•罗宾逊 哈佛大学毕业典礼演讲

英文：

CommencementAddress atHarvardUniversity  (Mary Robinson)

President Rudenstein, follow graduates, friendsHarvard,

   It’s s greathonor and pleasure to be invited today to share this happy occasion, not onlywith the members of the graduating class of 1998, but also with the familiesand friends who have no doubt supported you along the way with their kind wordsof advice and encouragement. I do remember sitting where so many of you satthis morning when I was part of the class of 1968. I still remember howuncertain and insecure I felt but how proud my father was on the day. Yourfamilies and your professors are rightfully proud of your achievements anddelighted to see you graduate with futures so bright with promise.

   I too amproud. I am proud to see so many capable young men and women about to embark on a future career where they can put theiryears of learning and preparation to good use. Having passed through the rigorsof a formal education, you are now ready to assumenew responsibilities and tasks, become answerable only to yourselves withregards to your performance, your humanity and your soundnessof judgment, in a world full of possibilities.

   But I wouldask you to remember that it is not a world full of possibilities for all. Eachof you has been the beneficiary of a rareprivilege. You have received an exceptional education at an exceptional placewhen there are many, in both your country and mine, and in many, many otherparts of our world, who are just as innatelytalented and just as ambitious as you are but will never have such anopportunity. I say this not to make you feel guilty. You should be proud ofwhat you have achieved. But I do ask that you use your education to pursue onlythe worthiest of goals; goals that can contribute to the betterment of the lives of others; and goals thatgive you personal satisfaction because of their contribution to the society welive in.

   You whograduate today and you who are recent and not so recent graduates who return tomeet you Harvard friends again, can I believe do much to contribute to thebetterment of society. You can become interested and involved in the worldaround you. By virtue of your education, you can offer society the benefits ofyour focused knowledge, as well as a wider wisdom and a great sense of purpose.You also have the skills to teach others to be more tolerant, moreunderstanding and more caring, and I am confident that your recognition of thisspecial responsibility will guide your actions.

   It’s only tosay that I wish you much happiness and success in the years ahead. May yourmemories of Harvard as mine are and the friends you have made here, be with youalways. Congratulations to the new graduates and I am very honored to be linkedwith the honorary graduates of the year 1998, and be rejuvenatedby joining the class of 1998. Thank you very much!

中文对照：

哈佛大学毕业典礼讲话 （玛丽·罗宾逊）

鲁登斯坦校长、毕业生们、哈佛的朋友们：

   今天我非常荣幸、非常高兴地受邀前来与大家分享这幸福的一刻。在座的不但有98届的毕业生，还有你们的亲朋好友，毫无疑问，他们一直都支持着你们，以金玉良言为你提建议和鼓励着你们。我清楚地记得，我曾以一名68届毕业生的身份坐在今天早晨你们许多人坐着的地方。我仍然记得那天我是多么的忐忑不安，而我父亲是多么的骄傲。你们的家人和教授理所应当要为你们的成就而骄傲，为看到你们毕业后面临光辉灿烂的前景而感到高兴。

   我也感到骄傲。看到那么多有能力的年轻人将把多年学到的学识好好地利用到他们未来将从事的事业上，我为此而骄傲。通过严格的正规教育，现在你们已经为承担新的职责与任务做好了准备，并以你们的表现、你们的人性以及你们准确的判断，在一个充满机遇的世界里为你们自己负责。

   但我要请你们记住，世界上并不是所有人都有这种机会的。你们每一位都是这个珍贵的特权的受益者。你们在特别的地方接受了优质的教育，而同时在你、我的国家中，在世界上许多其它地方，许多人像你们一样有天赋，一样有雄心壮志，但却永远不会有这样的机会。我这样说不是为了要让你们感到内疚，你们应当为自己所取得的成绩而自豪。但我恳切地请求你们把学到的知识用在最值得追求的目标上；致力于给他人创造更美好生活；这样你才会因为对我们生活的社会做出贡献而令自己感到满意。

   我相信，你们这些今天毕业的学生们，和你们在前几年毕业的、现在又回来与哈佛朋友再聚的学生们，以及老毕业生们，一定会为创造更美好的社会做出更多贡献。你们会对身边的世界更感兴趣、更投入。你们受到的教育使你们可以用所学的专业知识、更广博的智慧和一种庄严的使命感来造福于社会。你们还拥有使他人学会更宽容、更理解和关心别人的本领，我确信，一旦你认识到这一份特殊责任，它将引导你们去行动。

   现在我要说的是，祝你们未来幸福、成功。愿哈佛留给你们的回忆如同留给我的一样美好，愿你们和在这儿结交的朋友们友谊长存。恭喜新的毕业生们，能与98届的本科生们联系在一起，我非常的荣幸，成为这集体的一员，让我感到青春焕发。非常感谢！

注释：

embark      v. 从事，着手

assume      v. 承担，掌握

soundness   n. 完善，健全

beneficiary n. 领受人，受惠人

innately    ad. 生来地，天生地

betterment  n. 改良或改善的行动或过程；被改良或改善的事物

rejuvenate  v. 使恢复青春，充满活力