They are the principles on which my wife and I have tried to bring up our family. They are the principles in which my father believed and by which he governed his life. They are the principles, many of them, which I learned at my mother's knee.
They point the way to usefulness and happiness in life, to courage and peace in death.
If they mean to you what they mean to me, they may perhaps be helpful also to our sons for their guidance2 and inspiration.
Let me state them:
I believe in the supreme3 worth of the individual4 and in his right to life, liberty5 and the pursuit6 of happiness．
I believe that every right implies7 a responsibility; every opportunity8, an obligation9; every possession10, a duty．
I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master．
I believe in the dignity11 of labor, whether with head or hand, that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living．
I believe that thrift12 is essential13 to well－ordered14 living and that economy is a prime requisite15 of a sound16 financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs．
I believe that truth and justice are fundamental17 to an enduring18 social order．
I believe in the sacredness19 of a promise, that a man＇s word should be as good as his bond20, that character—not wealth or power or position—is of supreme worth．
I believe that the rendering21 of useful service is the common duty of mankind．
I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hates; that right can and will triumph22 over might．
These are the principles, however formulated23, for which all good men and women throughout the world, irrespective24 of race or creed, education, social position or occupation, are standing, and for which many of them are suffering and dying.
These are the principles upon which alone a new world recognizing the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God can be established.
这些是我和妻子全力教育孩子的准则，也是我父亲信奉的立身处世之道。其中有许多是我在母亲膝前学到的。
这些信条指明了追求生命价值和幸福的途径，也指明了如何勇敢而平静地面对死亡。
如果这些对诸位具有与对我相同的意义，它们或许也有助于我们的孩子得到启示和鼓舞。
且听我把这些信条一一道来：
我相信个人价值至高无上，每个人都有生存权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。
我相信每一项权利都意味着责任，每一次机会都意味着义务，每一种占有都意味着职责。
我相信法律是为人而制订的，而人并非为法律而活着；政府是人民的仆人，而不是人民的主人。
我相信劳动的尊严，无论是脑力劳动还是体力劳动；我相信这个世界没有义务赐给任何人生活，但它有义务给每个人一次谋生的机会。
我相信勤俭对于井然有序的生活来说是必不可少的，而节约是健全的经济结构最根本的要素，无论在政府、商务或个人事务中都是如此。
我相信真理和正义对社会秩序的长治久安至关重要。
我相信诺言是神圣的，一个人应言而有信。这种品质——而不是财富、权势或地位——具有至高无上的价值。
我相信提供有用的服务是人类的共同职责。
我相信爱是世界上最伟大的事物，只有爱才能战胜恨，正义能够而且必将战胜强权。
不管如何表达，以上就是全世界一切善良的人们所代表的原则，不论其种族信仰、教育、地位或职业如何。为了这些原则，许多人正在受苦和死亡。
只有在这些原则的基础上，才能建立起一个新的世界，在这个新世界里，上帝慈爱如父，人人亲如手足。
1. creed n． 信条
2． guidance n． 引导
3． supreme adj． 至高无上的
4． individual adj． 个人的
5． liberty n． 自由
6． pursuit n． 追求
7． imply v． 意味着
8． opportunity n． 机会
9． obligation n． 义务
10． possession n． 占有
11． dignity n． 尊严
12． thrift n． 节俭
13． essential adj． 关键的
14． well－ordered 井然有序的
15． requisite n． 必需品
16． sound adj． 健全的
17． fundamental adj． 基本的
18． enduring adj． 持久的
19． sacredness n． 神圣
20． one＇s word is (as good as) one＇s bond （成语）说话有信用
21． render (a service to sb．) 向某人提供服务
22． triumph v． 战胜
23． formulate v． 阐明
24． irrespective of 不顾