我们生来平等

All Men Are Created Equal

1

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."— Martin Luther King, Jr.

我有一个梦想：有一天这个国家将会奋起，真正实践自己的信条，即“人人生来平等，我们认为这是不言而喻的真理。”——马丁·路德·金

For you

"All men are created equal" has been written into the constitutions of many countries, but it is difficult to realize it. However, at the cost of the efforts and bloodshed of generations, we are approaching it step by step. 许多国家的宪法里都写着“人人生来平等”，但真正实现它却并不容易。然而，经过数代人的不懈努力和流血牺牲，我们正在一点一点地接近这个目标。

Words and Phrases

rise up 起来反抗；起义 live out 实践 creed [kri:d] n. 信条；教义

belief [bɪˈli:f] n. 信仰；信念 bloodshed [ˈblʌdʃed] n. 流血；杀戮 step by step 逐步地

2

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.— Martin Luther King, Jr.

我有一个梦想：有一天，我的4个孩子将生活在一个不是以肤色的深浅，而是以品德的优劣来评判他们的国家里。——马丁·路德·金

For you

Nobody should be despised for their family background, and no people should be deprived of their human rights for the color of their skin. We should treat every person equally. 没有人应当因为出身而受到轻视，也没有哪个民族应当因为肤色而被剥夺人权。我们应当平等地对待每一个人。

Words and Phrases

judge [dʒʌdʒ] v. 判断；审判 content [ˈkɒntent] n. 内容；容量

despise [dɪˈspaɪz] v. 鄙视，看不起 family background 家庭背景

equally [ˈi:kwəlɪ] adv. 相等地；同样地 equation [ɪˈkweɪʒn] n. 相等；均衡；方程式

3

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.— Martin Luther King, Jr.

我有一个梦想：有一天，在佐治亚州的红色山丘上，昔日奴隶的儿子们和昔日奴隶主的儿子们能够像兄弟一样坐在一起。——马丁·路德·金

For you

Nowadays slaves and slave owners are both gone. The distinction between the black people and the white people is vanishing away gradually. 如今，奴隶、奴隶主都已经成为了历史。黑人与白人之间的差别也正在逐渐地消失。

Words and Phrases

former [ˈfɔ:mə] adj. 从前的；前任的 be able to 会，能够

brotherhood [ˈbrʌðəhʊd] n. 兄弟关系；手足情谊

nowadays [ˈnaʊədeɪz] adv. 现今；时下

tomorrow [təˈmɒrəʊ] n. 明天，明日 adv. 在明天，在明日

distinction [dɪˈstɪŋkʃn] n. 区别；差别 vanish [ˈvænɪʃ] v. 消失；突然不见

4

I want to be the white man’s brother, not his brother-in-law.— Martin Luther King, Jr.

我想成为白人的兄弟，而不是他们的姻亲。——马丁·路德·金

For you

Only when the whites treat the blacks as brothers, the United States can be called an egalitarian country. 只有当白人把黑人当做自己的兄弟一样对待的时候，美国才能被称为是一个平等的国家。

Words and Phrases

brother-in-law [ˈbrʌðə(r) ɪn lɔ:] n. 姐夫；妹夫；内兄；内弟；大伯；小叔

brotherly [ˈbrʌðəlɪ] adj. 兄弟般的；亲切友好的

treat [tri:t] v. 招待；对待 entreat [ɪnˈtri:t] v. 恳求，乞求

entertain [ˌentəˈteɪn] v. 款待，招待

delectation [ˌdi:lekˈteɪʃn] n. 款待

egalitarian [ɪˌgælɪˈteərɪən] adj. 平等主义的

5

Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.— Martin Luther King, Jr.

种族歧视就像是地狱的恶犬，咬噬着黑人的生命，时刻提醒着他们自己总是低人一等。这样的谎言，在统治他们的社会中，竟被当做了真理。——马丁·路德·金

For you

When the white men constantly put emphasis on the difference between the blacks and themselves and claimed that they were superior to those blacks, did they have God in their minds? 当白人不断地强调他们与黑人之间的差别，并声称他们比黑人高一等的时候，他们心中可有上帝？

Words and Phrases

hellhound [ˈhelhaʊnd] n. 地狱之犬；恶鬼 gnaw at 啃，咬；侵蚀

inferiority [ʊnˌfʊʊrʊˈʊrʊtʊ] n. 自卑；低劣 dominate [ˈdɒmɪneɪt] v. 支配；统治

domination [ˌdɒmɪ'neɪʃn] n. 统治；支配 dominion [dəˈmɪnɪən] n. 统治，管辖；支配

put emphasis on 重视；强调 superior to 优于；比……优越

6

This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality.— Martin Luther King, Jr.

只有自由平等的爽朗秋天到来，黑人义愤填鹰的酷暑才会过去。——马丁·路德·金

For you

Nothing can compensate the blacks for the sufferings that they have experienced unless they are given freedom and equality. 只有给予黑人自由和平等，才能补偿他们所经历的苦难。

Words and Phrases

sweltering [ˈsweltʊrʊʊ] adj. 酷热的 legitimate [lʊˈdʊʊtʊmʊt] adj. 正当的，合理的；合法的

discontent [ˌdɪskənˈtent] n. 不满 adj. 不满的

invigorating [ɪnˈvɪɡəreɪtɪŋ] adj. 精力充沛的；爽快的

compensate [ˈkɒmpenseɪt] v. 补偿；赔偿

7

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.— Martin Luther King, Jr.

我们必须像兄弟一样一起生活，否则就会像愚人一样一起灭亡。——马丁·路德·金

For you

Human beings can survive only if we get on well with each other. Constant conflicts and wars will lead us to extinction one day. 只有和平相处，人类才能共同繁荣。无休止的冲突和战争终将导致人类的灭亡。

Words and Phrases

perish [ˈperʊʊ] v. 毁灭；消失；腐烂 constant [ˈkʊnstʊnt] adj. 经常的；不变的

extinction [ʊkˈstʊʊkʊn] n. 消失 extinct [ʊkˈstʊʊkt] adj. 灭绝的

ecocide [ˈi:kʊʊsaʊd] n. 生态灭绝 die out 灭绝，消失

8

All are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.— Barack Obama

每个人都是平等的，都是自由的，人人都享有充分追求幸福的权利。——贝拉克·奥巴马

For you

Everyone has right to pursue their own happiness without harming others;nobody should obtain it at the cost of others’ misery. 每个人都有权利在不伤害他人的前提下，去追求自己的幸福；每个人都不能将自己的幸福建立在他人的痛苦之上。

Words and Phrases

deserve [dʊˈzʊ:v] v. 应受，应得 measure [ˈmeʒə] n. 手段，方法；程度；限度

measurable [ˈmeʊʊrʊbl] adj. 可测量的 measurably [ˈmeʒərəblɪ] adv. 可测地；清楚地

measurement [ˈmeʊʊmʊnt] n. 测量，度量 meterage [ˈmi:tərɪdʒ] n. 量度，测度

misery [ˈmʊzʊrʊ] n. 痛苦，悲惨 painful [ˈpeɪnfl] adj. 令人疼痛的

9

It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.— Susan Brownnell Anthony

是我们——人民，不是白人男性公民，也不是男性公民，而是我们——全体人民，组成了这个联邦。——苏珊·安东尼

For you

Men or women, old or young, every person is a member of the country, and none of them should be unfairly excluded from the rights that God bestowed on them. 无论男女老幼，每个人都是国家的一份子，没有人应当被不公平地剥夺上帝赋予他们的权利。

Words and Phrases

male [meʊl] adj. 男性的；雄性的 citizen [ˈsʊtʊzn] n. 公民；市民；老百姓

unfairly [ʌnˈfeəlɪ] adv. 不公平地 exclude [ʊkˈsklu:d] v. 排除；不包括

10

Every discrimination against women in the constitutions and laws of the several states is today null and void, precisely as is every one against Negroes.— Susan Brownnell Anthony

无论是国家的宪法，还是少数几个州的法律，其中歧视女性的条款，和那些歧视黑人的条款一样，在今天都是无效的。——苏珊·安东尼

For you

In a civilized society, women should enjoy the same rights as men, which should be ensured by constitutions and laws. 在文明社会中，宪法和法律应当确保女性享有与男性同等之权利。

Words and Phrases

discrimination [dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn] n. 歧视；区别

racial discrimination 种族歧视 null and void 无效的

precisely [prʊˈsaʊslʊ] adv. 精确地；恰恰 precision [prɪˈsɪʒn] n. 精确，准确

civilized [ˈsʊvʊlaʊzd] adj. 文明的；有礼貌的 friendly [ˈfrendlɪ] adj. 友好的

11

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master.— Abraham Lincoln

因为我不想做奴隶，所以也不想做奴隶主。——亚伯拉罕·林肯

Words and Phrases

slaver [ˈsleɪvə(r)] n. 奴隶贩子；口水 v. 流口水

slave [sleɪv] n. 奴隶；苦工 v. 苦干

slavish [ˈsleɪvɪʃ] adj. 奴隶般的；盲从的

slavishly [ˈsleɪvɪʃlɪ] adv. 奴隶般地；盲从地

slave society 奴隶社会

master [ˈmɑ:stə] n. 主人；大师

expert [ˈekspɜ:t] n. 专家

For you

Where there are slaves,there are masters. When there are no slaves in the world and everyone is equal, there would be no masters. 有奴隶，才会有奴隶主。如果世上没有奴隶，人人平等，也就不会有奴隶主了。

12

Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.— Abraham Lincoln

每当我听到有人赞成奴隶制度，我都忍不住想看看他自己变成奴隶后是什么感受。——亚伯拉罕·林肯

For you

"Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you." If you don’t want to be a slave, why do you ask others to be? “己所不欲，勿施于人。”倘若你自己不愿意变成奴隶，为什么要让别人当奴隶呢？

Words and Phrases

argue [ˈʊ:gju:] v. 争论，争辩 argue for 赞成；支持

debate [dɪˈbeɪt] v. 辩论，讨论

impulse [ˈɪmpʌls] n. 冲动；一时的念头

impulsive [ɪmˈpʌlsɪv] adj. 易冲动的

try on 试验；试穿

personally [ˈpɜ:sənəlɪ] adv. 亲自；就个人来说

personal [ˈpɜ:sənl] adj. 个人的，私人的

13

If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.— Abraham Lincoln

如果奴隶制没有错的话，那就再没有什么是错误的了。 ——亚伯拉罕·林肯

For you

If it is not wrong that one people enslaves another, there is no need for the human beings to create the word "justice". 如果一个民族奴役另一个民族不是错误，那么人类就没有必要创造“正义”这个词了。

Words and Phrases

no need 不需要；不必了

justice [ˈdʒʌstɪs] n. 公平；正义；司法

14

Though disfranchised, we have few women in the best sense.— Elizabeth Cady Stanton

虽然被剥夺了公民选举权，但很少有女性意识到这一点。——伊丽莎白·卡迪·斯坦顿

For you

When an unequal law or convention has lasted for too long a time, many people may think it is reasonable, even those who are harmed by it. 当某个不公平的法律或惯例持续得太久，许多人就会觉得它是合理的，就连那些受它迫害的人也这样想。

Words and Phrases

disfranchise [ˌdɪsˈfræntʃaɪz] v. 剥夺公民权；剥夺……权利

sense [sens] n. 观念；判断力；理智

convention [kʊnˈvenʊʊn] n. 惯例；公约 treaty [ˈtri:tɪ] n. （国际间的）条约，协定

pact [pækt] n. 条约，协议 reasonable [ˈri:znəbl] adj. 合理的

reasonably [ˈri:znəblɪ] adv. 合乎逻辑地

15

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.— Elizabeth Cady Stanton

我们认为，男女生来平等，这是不言而喻的真理。——伊丽莎白·卡迪·斯坦顿

For you

God treats every person equally, either men or women. He has never said that women should submit themselves to men. 上帝公平地对待每一个人，无论是男是女。他从未说过女人应当服从男人。

Words and Phrases

self-evident [self ˈevɪdənt] adj. 不言而喻的；不证自明的

equal [ˈi:kwəl] adj. 平等的；相等的 v. 等于

equally [ˈi:kwəlɪ] adv. 平等地

submit [səbˈmɪt] v. 使服从；使屈服

16

Today, we’ve sworn in the first Madame Speaker of the House of Representatives.— Hillary Clinton

如今，众议院的第一位女发言人宣誓就职了。——希拉里·克林顿

For you

Women are playing a more and more important part in modern society. With her own actions, Hillary Clinton has shown that women can also become excellent politicians like men. 在现代社会，女性担当起了越来越重要的角色。希拉里用自己的实际行动证明，女性也可以像男人一样成为优秀的政治家。

Words and Phrases

swear [sweʊ(r)] v. 发誓，宣誓 swear in 使宣誓就职

speaker [ˈspi:kə] n. 发言人

speech [spi:tʃ] n. 讲话，发言

representative [ˌreprɪˈzentətɪv] n. 代表；众议员

behalf [bɪˈhɑ:f] n. 代表；利益；方面

politician [ˌpɒləˈtɪʃn] n. 政治家；政客

political [pəˈlɪtɪkl] adj. 政治的；政权的

17

Before God we are all equally wise and equally foolish.— Albert Einstein

在上帝面前，我们同样睿智，也同样愚蠢。——阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦

For you

We are equal before God. Nobody is nobler than other people and nobody is humbler than others. 在上帝面前，我们都是平等的，没有人比他人高贵，也没有人比他人低贱。

Words and Phrases

equally [ˈi:kwʊlʊ] adv. 同样地；相等地 equality [ʊˈkwʊlʊtʊ] n. 同等，平等

foolish [ˈfu:lɪʃ] adj. 愚蠢的，傻的 fool [fu:l] n. 蠢人，傻瓜

silly [ˈsʊlʊ] adj. 愚蠢的；不明事理的 dull [dʌl] adj. 迟钝的，愚笨的

humble [ˈhʊmbl] adj. 低下的；卑微的 humility [hju:ˈmɪlətɪ] n. 谦逊，谦虚

18

If any man claims the Negro should be content...let him say he would willingly change the color of his skin and go to live in the Negro section of a large city. Then and only then has he a right to such a claim.— Robert Kennedy

如果有人认为黑人应当对他们目前的处境感到满足……除非他自愿改变自己的肤色，并到大城市里的黑人区生活，他才有资格说这样的话。——罗伯特·肯尼迪

For you

We should not do to others what we would not like done to us. If you are unwilling to be treated unfairly, how can you do this to others? 己所不欲，勿施于人。如果你不愿意受到不公平的待遇，你又怎么可以不公平地对待别人呢？

Words and Phrases

claim [kleʊm] v. 声称，主张 n. 主张；断言 Negro [ˈni:grəʊ] n. 黑人 adj. 黑人的

willingly [ˈwʊlʊʊlʊ] adv. 乐意地，情愿地 unwilling [ʌnˈwɪlɪŋ] adj. 不愿意的

19

Allow men and women to register and vote whatever the color of their skin.— Lyndon Baines Johnson

请允许每一个人进行登记和投票，无论他们是何种肤色。——林登·贝恩斯·约翰逊

For you

Give the blacks the right to vote, which is the first and most important step to treat them equally. Without it, the blacks are still slaves. 给予黑人选举权，这是平等对待黑人的第一步，也是最重要的一步。如果没有选举权，黑人依旧是奴隶。

Words and Phrases

register [ˈredʒɪstə(r)] v. 登记，注册

registration [ˌredʒɪˈstreɪʃn] n. 登记

registered [ˈredʒɪstəd] adj. 已注册的；挂号的

registrar [ˌredʊʊˈstrʊ:(r)] n. 登记员 vote [vəʊt] v. 选举；投票

voter [ˈvʊʊtʊ(r)] n. 投票人，选举人 voting [ˈvəʊtɪŋ] n. 投票，选举

whatever [wɒtˈevə(r)] pron. 无论什么 adj. 无论怎样……都

20

All the citizens of a state cannot be equally powerful, but they may be equally free.— Voltaire

一个国家的所有公民即使不能够平等地享有权力，却可以平等地享受自由。——伏尔泰

For you

There is no absolute equality in the world. Therefore, people may be rich or poor, lucky or unlucky, but people should equally enjoy the basic human rights. 世上本不存在绝对的平等，所以人们也许富有或贫穷，也许幸运或不幸，但是人们理应平等地享有基本的人权。

Words and Phrases

senior citizen 老人

citizenry [ˈsɪtɪzənrɪ] n. 全体市民

equality [ɪˈkwɒlətɪ] n. 同等；平等

equally [ˈi:kwəlɪ] adv. 平等地；相等地

21

All men are created equal; it is only men themselves who place themselves above equality.— David Allan Coe

人们生来本是平等的，不过是自己把自己放在了不平等的位置上。——大卫·艾伦·科

For you

No matter how noble you are born, you have no right to belittle others; no matter how humble your background is, you don’t need to downgrade yourself.无论你的出身有多么高贵，你都没有权力轻贱别人；无论你的出身有多么卑微，你都没有必要轻贱自己。

Words and Phrases

degrading [dɪˈgreɪdɪŋ] adj. 有辱人格的；贬低的

demeaning [dɪˈmi:nɪŋ] adj. 降低身份的；失去尊严的

degrade [dɪˈgreɪd] v. 使受侮辱

downgrade [ˌdaʊnˈgreɪd] v. 使降低；使降级

22

Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberty without it.— Frances Wright

平等是自由的灵魂；因此，没有平等就没有自由。——弗朗西斯·赖特

For you

Equality is the foundation of liberty. Where there is no equality, there will be slavery and oppression; where there are slavery and oppression, there will be no real liberty. 平等是自由的基础。有不平等的地方，就会有奴役和压迫；有奴役和压迫的地方，就没有真正的自由。

Words and Phrases

in fact 事实上；实际上

slavery [ˈsleɪvərɪ] n. 奴役；奴隶制

oppression [əˈpreʃən] n. 压迫；镇压

oppressed [əˈprest] adj. 被压迫的，受迫害的

oppressive [əˈpresɪv] adj. 压迫的，压制的

oppressor [əˈpresə] n. 压迫者，残酷的统治者

23

Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacities.She has the right to participate in very minutest detail in the activities of man and she has an equal right of freedom and liberty with him.— Mohandas Gandhi

女性是男性的同伴，拥有同等的智力，有权参与到男性最细小的活动中去，并享有同等的自由。——莫罕达斯·甘地

For you

Women are no inferior to men in mental capacities. In some fields they can do better than men. And the society should offer equal chances to women. 女人在智力上决不输于男人，在某些领域中，她们做得比男人更好。社会应当给女人提供同等的机会。

Words and Phrases

companion [kəmˈpænjən] n. 同伴，朋友

companionable [kəmˈpænɪənəbl] adj. 朋友般的；友好的

companionship [kəmˈpænɪənʃɪp] n. 友情，友谊

company [ˈkʊmpʊnʊ] n. 陪伴，作伴 capacity [kəˈpæsətɪ] n. 能力；资格

participate [pʊ:ˈtʊsʊpeʊt] v. 参加，参与 participate in 参加；分享

minute [ˈmʊnʊt] adj. 微小的；详细的 detail [ˈdi:teɪl] n. 细节；详情

24

I realize that I’m black, but I like to be viewed as a person, and this is everybody’s wish.— Michael Jordan

我知道我是个黑人，但我希望只是被当做一个“人”来对待，而这也是所有人的希望。——迈克尔·乔丹

For you

Everybody hopes that they can be equally viewed and respected by others,although there are many people in the world who inherit from the last generation unreasonable racism. 这世上有很多人从上代人那里继承了不可理喻的种族歧视，但是，每个人都希望被别人平等地看待，希望得到别人的尊重。

Words and Phrases

be viewed as 被看成是；被看做是

unreasonable [ʌnˈri:znəbl] adj. 不合理的；过度的

inherit [ɪnˈherɪt] v. 继承；遗传

25

If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag.— Author Unknown

如果你为自己的肤色感到可耻，那么你最好换个国籍。——佚名

For you

Not everybody was born into a rich and noble family, but nobody feels ashamed of his parentage. Likewise, no matter your country is rich or poor, at least it is your own motherland. 不是每个人都出生于一个高贵富裕的家庭，但是没有人会为自己的出身而感到羞耻。同样，无论你的国家是贫穷还是富裕，它至少是你自己的祖国。

Words and Phrases

ashamed [əˈʃeɪmd] adj. 惭愧的；感到难为情的

had better 最好

parentage [ˈpeərəntɪdʒ] n. 出身；血统

parental [pəˈrentl] adj. 父母的，双亲的

parenthood [ˈpeərənthʊd] n. 父母身份

parenting [ˈpeərəntɪŋ] n. 养育，抚养

26

The first woman was created from the rib of a man. She was not made from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal to him.— Author Unknown

世上的第一个女人是由男人的一根肋骨变成的。因为不是头骨，所以女人不会凌驾于男人之上；也不是脚骨，所以女人不应当受到男人践踏；而是身体一侧的肋骨，所以女人与男人平等。——佚名

For you

God created a man first, and then he created a woman as his companion instead of his slave or appendix. 上帝先创造了男人，然后创造了女人作为男人的伴侣，而不是他们的奴隶或者附属品。

Words and Phrases

rib [rɪb] n. 肋骨

trample [ˈtræmpl] v. 践踏；轻视

treadle [ˈtredl] n. 踏板

appendix [əˈpendɪks] n. 附属物