哈佛大学校长毕业演讲：你的人生态度，比什么都重要

哈佛大学校长劳伦斯·巴科（LawrenceBacow）演讲时，回忆了“往事”，也追忆了领导哈佛大学第一年的一些亮点。演讲的最后，他大声呼吁：我是一个乐观主义者，这因为我在你们所有人中间生活和工作 - 因为我看到你们所做的事情，因为我知道你们能做什么的无限潜力。愿我们在未来几年互相展望灵感。愿我们对我们的期望超过我们满足它们的能力。

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中英对照翻译

Thank you very much Margaret for that very generousintroduction.

非常感谢玛格丽特非常慷慨的介绍。

First let me say congratulations to our graduates. Welcomeback to our alumni. Good afternoon to everyone—colleagues and friends; family members, loved ones, and our mostspecial guest - our eminent speaker. Its a pleasure to address to you thisafternoon and to offer a few reflections as I approach the end of my first yearas president.

首先让我向毕业生表示祝贺。欢迎回到我们的校友。同事和朋友们，家庭成员，亲人们和我们最特别的客人 - 我们的杰出演讲者，大家下午好！很高兴今天下午向你们致辞，并在接近我作为校长的第一年任期结束时提出一些反思。

I realize,however, that I’m literally the last thingstanding between you and the speech that you’ve allactually come to hear. So, while I cannot promise to be mesmerizingly eloquent,I can at least promise to be mercifully brief.

然而，我意识到，我的演讲实际上将是你和你所有人实际听到的演讲之间的最后一件事。所以，虽然我不能保证会令人着迷，但我至少可以保证你们能够得到仁慈的简短。

We gather thisafternoon buoyed by the aspirations of our graduates—some 7,100 people who have distinguishedthemselves in nearly every field and every discipline imaginable. We welcomethem into the venerable ranks of our alumni, and we send them forth into aworld that is very much in need of both their minds and their hearts.

今天下午我们聚集了毕业生的愿望 - 大约7,100人，他们在几乎每个领域和每个可以想象的学科中都表现出色。我们欢迎他们进入我们校友的尊贵队伍，我们将他们带入一个非常需要他们的思想和心灵的世界。

During my brieftime in office, our world has reminded us daily of the necessity and theurgency of our work.

在我短暂的任职期间，我们的世界每天都在提醒我们工作的必要性和紧迫性。

We have witnessed the coarsening of public discourse and the volatility ofnational and international affairs.

我们目睹了公共话语的粗化以及国家和国际事务的波动。

We’ve mourned when gunviolence has cut futures short, and when gatherings of the faithful—Jewish, Muslim, and Christian—have ended inbloodshed.

当枪支暴力频发时，以及当忠诚的犹太人，穆斯林人和基督徒的集会以流血事件结束时，我们已经哀悼。

We’ve continued to confrontthe existential threat posed by climate change, and we’vereeled as extreme weather has destroyed homes and claimed lives.

我们继续面对气候变化带来的生存威胁，我们已经感到极为温暖，因为极端天气摧毁了房屋，夺走了生命。

And we’ve grown increasingly aware of thescourge of sexual harassment and sexual assault, and have struggled to considerhow institutions, Harvard among them, can prevent and address behavior thatthreatens individuals and weakens communities.

我们越来越意识到性骚扰和性侵犯的祸害，并且一直在努力思考哈佛大学中的机构如何能够预防和解决威胁个人和削弱社区的行为。

To be sure,there is much in this world that rightly troubles us. But there’s even more that gives us cause for hope.

可以肯定的是，在这个世界上有很多东西正困扰着我们。但是还有更多让我们看到希望的原因。

And it’s that spirit of hope – the willingness both to see the world as it is, and to consider howwe can help make it better – that is in many ways thespirit that defines this university and I believe joins us all together.

正是这种希望的精神 - 既看到现实世界又考虑如何帮助改善世界的意愿 - 这在许多方面都是用来定义这所大学的精神，我相信我们将会把所有人联合起来。

Since I tookoffice on July 1, I’ve seen the value of bothknowledge and education at work in the world. I’ve seenthe good being done by our faculty and our students, by our alumni, and ourstaff, and our friends. And I’ve seen expressions ofcompassion, and patience, and kindness, and wisdom that have moved me deeply.  
自从我7月1日上任以来，我已经看到了世界上工作中知识和教育的价值。我见过我们的教师和学生，我们的校友，我们的员工和朋友所做的好事。而且我已经看到了同情，耐心，善良和智慧的表达，这些表达让我深受感动。

I had the privilege of helping to celebrate members of our community who wererecently sworn in as new United States citizens—graduates of the Harvard Bridge Program. Through their own hardwork, and with the generous help of volunteer student and alumni tutors, theycan now enjoy the full rights and privileges of citizenship – and the full sense of belonging that comes with it. It was trulyand inspiring ceremony.

我有幸帮助庆祝我们社区的成员，他们最近宣誓就任美国新公民 - 哈佛大桥计划的毕业生。通过他们自己的努力，以及志愿者学生和校友导师的慷慨帮助，他们现在可以享受公民身份的全部权利和特权 - 以及随之而来的完全归属感。这是真正鼓舞人心的仪式。

At a time whenso many people are dispirited by the deep divisions in our country, when ourpolitics seem so dysfunctional, our graduates are taking up the cause of publicservice by running for office in record numbers. The world needs them, andtheir willingness to serve gives me hope.

在我们这个国家的深刻分歧让很多人感到沮丧的时候，当我们的政治看起来如此功能失调时，我们的毕业生正以创纪录的数量竞选公职，从事公共服务事业。世界需要他们，他们的服务意愿给了我希望。

As Margaretnoted, this past year I traveled to meet alumni who are helping to strengthencommunities in Detroit, Dallas, and Houston; in Miami, Phoenix, and New York;in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego—in China, Japan, and England —people who arenot only launching and building businesses and creating opportunity, but peoplewho are also teaching, volunteering, advancing important legislation, workingfor non-profits, and serving the public good.

正如玛格丽特所指出的，在过去的一年里，我前往会见并帮助加强底特律，达拉斯和休斯敦社区的校友；在迈阿密，凤凰城和纽约;在洛杉矶，旧金山和圣地亚哥 - 在中国，日本和英国 - 人们不仅开展和建立企业并创造机会，而且还在教学，志愿服务，推进重要立法，为非营利组织工作的人，并为公益事业服务。

I’ve yet to meet anyone whothinks that this world that we live in is perfect. This is not a politicalstatement. It’s equally true of liberals and conservatives,Democrats and Republicans. And if you don’t think thatthe world that we live in is perfect, the only way it gets better is if goodpeople work to repair it. Our students, our faculty, our staff and alumni aredoing so daily, and it makes me so proud.

我还没有遇到任何认为我们生活的这个世界是完美的人。这不是一份政治声明。自由主义者和保守派，民主党人和共和党人也同样如此。如果你不认为我们生活的世界是完美的，那么它变得更好的唯一方法就是善良的人努力修复它。我们的学生，教师，员工和校友每天都这样做，这让我很自豪。

This year I hadthe privilege to meet, and be moved by, not just one but two of the nation’s preeminent poets—the United States Youth Poet Laureate, our own Amanda Gorman, andthe United States Poet Laureate, our own, Tracy K. Smith [gesture to Tracy, whowill be on stage]. I’ve also had the chance to marvelat artists who every day breathe life into our campus with their performancesand creative work – it’samazing to see the talent that is represented on this campus and among ouralumni, our faculty, and staff.

今年，我有幸与两位国家最杰出的诗人 - 美国青年诗人桂冠，我们自己的阿曼达戈尔曼，以及美国桂冠诗人，我们自己的特蕾西K见面并受感动。史密斯[对Tracy挥手，她将在主席台上]。我也有机会惊叹那些每天为我们的校园带来生活的艺术家们的表演和创造性的工作 - 看到这个校园以及我们的校友，我们的教师和员工所代表的才能真是令人惊叹。

And every day I’ve learned more about theremarkable efforts of our faculty to improve the world:

每天我都会更多地了解我们的教师为改善世界而做出的卓越努力：

Alison Simmons and Barbara Grosz, are making sure that the next generation ofcomputer scientists is prepared to address the ethical questions posed by thedevelopment of new digital technologies;

Alison Simmons和Barbara Grosz正在确保下一代计算机科学家准备好解决新数字技术发展带来的道德问题；

Ali Malkawi and his HouseZero, which is demonstrating the possibilities ofultra-efficient design and new building technology to respond to the threat ofclimate change;

Ali Malkawi和他的HouseZero，展示了超高效设计和新建筑技术应对气候变化威胁的可能性;

Sasha Kill Ewald, who’s revealing how marriageand parenthood affects wages, and helping us understand why economic inequalitypersists across generations—and also how we might breakthe cycle of poverty. I have also come to know about the work...

Sasha Kill Ewald揭示了婚姻和父母身份如何影响工资，并帮助我们理解为什么经济不平等在几代人之间持续存在 - 以及我们如何打破贫困循环。我也开始了解这项工作......

Of Conor Walsh, who’s helping people withneurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases walk again with soft exosuits thatuse the latest robotic technology to help improve movement;

Conor Walsh帮助患有神经退行性疾病和神经肌肉疾病的人再次使用最新的机器人技术来帮助改善运动的柔软的exosuits。

Of Sara Bleich, who’s helping to address theobesity epidemic by considering how changes in public policy can reduceconsumption of high calorie foods and soft drinks;

萨拉·布莱希（Sara Bleich）通过考虑公共政策的变化如何减少高热量食品和软饮料的消费，帮助解决肥胖问题；

Of Tony Jack, who’s changing how collegesthink about supporting disadvantaged students and improving their prospects notjust in college but throughout life;
托尼杰克，正在改变大学如何考虑支持弱势学生并改善他们的前景，不仅在大学，而且在整个生活中；

Of Arlene Sharpe and Gordon Freeman, who are giving hope to cancer patients byharnessing the body’s own immune system totreat disease;

Arlene Sharpe和Gordon Freeman，他们通过利用身体自身的免疫系统治疗疾病，为癌症患者带来希望;

Of XiaoweiZhuang, whose super-resolution imaging is enabling scientists to look insidecells with unprecedented clarity and see how molecules function and interact;

Xiaowei Zhuang，其超分辨率成像使科学家能够以前所未有的清晰度观察细胞内部，并了解分子如何发挥作用和相互作用;

Of AndrewCrespo, who’s culled massive amountsof data from our trial courts to change how we think about our system ofcriminal justice—and how we might improve it.

安德鲁·克雷斯波（Andrew Crespo）从我们的审判法庭中剔除了大量数据，以改变我们对刑事司法系统的看法 - 以及我们如何改进它。

I have metfaculty across our schools who are expanding religious literacy; who areexploring the role of the arts in promoting justice; who are confronting theopioid epidemic from every angle; who are working to make state and localgovernment more effective. Their work is nothing short of inspiring.

我遇到了各个学校的教师，他们正在扩大宗教素养；在探索艺术在促进正义方面的作用；从各个角度面对阿片类药物流行病;正在努力使州和地方政府更有效。他们的工作简直就是鼓舞人心。

And I’ve come to know students – absolutely amazing students. To the parents who are here thank you,thank you for sending these remarkable young people to us. They are nothingshort of inspiring. Interacting with them is one of the great privileges ofliving and working on a college campus. Adele and I have had dinner with themin the Houses. We’ve watched them perform on the stageand on the playing fields. I’ve met with them duringoffice hours and talked with them as I’ve gone runningwith them. If you spend time with our students, you cannot help but feeloptimistic about our future.

我开始认识学生 - 非常棒的学生。对于在座的家长表示感谢，感谢您将这些非凡的年轻人送到我们这里。它们简直就是鼓舞人心的。与他们互动是在大学校园生活和工作的重要荣耀之一。阿黛尔和我在众议院和他们共进晚餐。我们看过他们在舞台上和比赛场地上表演。我在办公时间与他们见面并与他们交谈，因为我和他们一起跑步。如果你和我们的学生共度时光，你会对我们的未来感到乐观。

This past week Ihad lunch with thirty graduating seniors. It was wonderful to hear how theythink they have changed and matured during their four years here. I actuallyask them how is your current self different from your 18-year-old self thatarrived here on campus, and the stories were marvelous. And I have witnessedthis process of transformation myself.

在过去的一周里，我与三十名毕业的老人共进午餐。很高兴听到他们认为这四年来他们已经改变和成熟的方式。我实际上问他们，你现在的自我与你在校园里来到这里的18岁的自我有什么不同，故事真是太棒了。我亲眼目睹了这一转变过程。

I helped toadvise three of our incoming first-year undergraduates this year, and theyhelped me experience and understand Harvard through their eyes. To Andrew,Claire, and Karen, thank you for sharing your first year with me and forteaching me so well.

今年我帮助了三名即将入读的一年级本科生，通过他们的眼睛我得以体验和了解哈佛大学。致Andrew，Claire和Karen，感谢您与我分享您的第一年并教我如此好。

For every personI’ve named, for everyexample I’ve cited, there are thousands of other Harvardcitizens—students and alumni, faculty and staff—who are making the world better in more ways than we could possiblyimagine. That is the power of this institution—not itsbrand, not our buildings, not our pomp and circumstance (as wonderful andterrific as that is). This University, Harvard, is its people— their aspirations, their achievements—theirdiversity of background, experience and thought – theirdesire to see beyond themselves and their devotion to serving others.

对于我所提到的每一个人，对于我所引用的每一个例子，都有成千上万的其他哈佛公民 - 学生和校友，教职员工 - 他们以比我们想象的更多的方式让世界更美好。这就是这个机构的力量 - 不是它的品牌，不是我们的建筑，也不是我们的盛况和环境（就像那样精彩和难以置信）。哈佛大学就是指哈佛人 - 他们的愿望，他们的成就 - 他们的背景，经验和思想的多样性 - 他们渴望超越自己以及他们对服务他人的奉献精神。

So, yes, I am anoptimist. I’m an optimist because Ilive and work among all of you – because I see what youdo and because I know the boundless potential of what you can do. May we lookto one another for inspiration in the years to come. May the expectationsplaced on us be exceeded only by our ability to meet them. And may Harvardcontinue to be a wellspring of hope for the world. It’san honor to serve you as your president.

所以，是的，我是一个乐观主义者，这因为我在你们所有人中间生活和工作 - 因为我看到你们所做的事情，因为我知道你们能做什么的无限潜力。愿我们在未来几年互相展望灵感。愿我们对我们的期望超过我们满足它们的能力。哈佛可能继续成为世界希望的源泉。能够为您担任校长感到荣幸。

Congratulationsto our new alumni—and thank you all.

恭喜我们的新校友 - 谢谢大家。