Our Family Creed

約翰·洛克菲勒 / John Rockefelter

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 guidance and inspiration.

Let me state them：

I believe it the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life， liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I believe that every right implies a responsibility； every opportunity， an obligation； every possession， 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 dignity 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 thrift is essential to well-ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure， whether in government， business or personal affairs.

I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise， that a man’s word should be as good as his bond， that character — not wealth or power or position — is of supreme worth.

I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free.

I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God， named by whatever name， and that the individual’s highest fulfillment， greatest happiness and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will.

I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world； that it alone can overcome hate； that right can and will triumph over might.

These are the principles， however formulated， for which all good men and women throughout the world， irrespective 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.

這些是我和太太在教育子女時盡力倚仗的信條，是我父親所深信并以之為人生律條的信條，這些信條中的大部分是我從母親的膝下秉承而來的。

這些信條告訴人們如何快樂而有所作為地活著，也告訴人們如何勇敢而安詳地面對死亡。

假如這些信條于諸位的意義如同它們于我的意義，那么也許它們可以有效地指導和鼓舞我們的兒女。

讓我說出這些信條：

我相信，人人擁有無上的價值，擁有生存、自由和追求幸福的權利。

我相信，每一項權利都必然包含著責任，每一個機遇都必然包含著義務，每一種獲得都必然包含著職責。

我相信，法律為人而制，而非人為法律而生，政府是人民的公仆，而非人民的主人。

我相信，無論體力勞動還是腦力勞動都是高尚的，世界不會讓人不勞而獲，而會給人一次謀生的機會。

我相信，無論在政府、商業還是個人事務中，勤儉節約都是合理安排生活之基本要素，而經濟適用是健全的金融機制之必需。

我相信，真理和正義是任何一個長治久安的社會秩序之基礎。

我相信，承諾是神圣的；我也相信，假如人的言語能和契約同樣可靠，那么這種品質——而非財富、權勢與身份地位——就具有至高無上的價值。

我相信，人類共同的職責是有效地服務社會，只有在自我犧牲的煉火中，自私的沉渣才會被焚為灰燼，人類靈魂中的偉大情操才會顯現。

我相信，有—位無所不知、大慈大悲的上帝存在——盡管人們對他的稱呼各不相同——人們能在與他的意志和諧生活的過程中得到最高的滿足感、最大的幸福感，以及最廣博的成就感。

我相信，世界上最偉大的事物就是愛，只有愛能夠戰勝仇恨，而真理能夠而且必定擊敗強權。

無論怎樣表達，以上就是那些信條——世界上所有不計種族、信仰、宗教、地位或職業的善良的人們所代表的信條——而且正是為了這些信條，他們中許多人正在忍受折磨，甚至正在死去。

只有憑借這些信條，人類才能建立起人人如手足、上帝如慈父的新世界。

記憶填空

1. They are the principles on my wife and I have tried to bring up our . They are the principles in which my father and by！ Which he governed his . They are the principles， many of them， which I at my mother’s knee.

2. I believe that every implies a responsibility； opportunity， an obligation； every possession， a .

3. I believe that is the greatest thing in the world； that it can overcome hate； that right can and will triumph might.

佳句翻譯

1. 這些信條告訴人們如何快樂而有所作為地活著，也告訴人們如何勇敢而安詳地面對死亡。

2. 我相信，真理和正義是任何一個長治久安的社會秩序之基礎。

3. 人們能在與他的意志和諧生活的過程中得到最高的滿足感、最大的幸福感，以及最廣博的成就感。

短語應用

1. They are the principles on which my wife and I have tried to bring up our family.

bring up：教育，培養，使成長

2. I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure， whether in government， business or personal affairs.

be essential to：對……不可缺少