胜我们，除非我们背离了我们的宪法和基本原则；俄罗斯和中国这样的对手也不可能与我们匹敌，除非我们抛弃了立场、变成另一个欺凌周边小国的大国。
Which brings me to my final point -- our democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted. All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions. When voting rates are some of the lowest among advanced democracies, we should make it easier, not harder, to vote. When trust in our institutions is low, we should reduce the corrosive influence of money in our politics, and insist on the principles of transparency and ethics in public service. When Congress is dysfunctional, we should draw our districts to encourage politicians to cater to common sense and not rigid extremes.
这也是我想要表达的最后一点：当我们把民主视为理所当然时，我们的民主就会受到威胁。我们所有人，不论党派，都应该致力于重建我们的民主体制的任务。当投票率是发达民主国家中最低之一时，我们应该使投票更容易，而不是更难。 当我们的组织信任度降低时，我们应该减少金钱在政治中的腐蚀性影响，并坚持透明度和道德的公共服务原则。当国会功能失调时，我们应该吸引我们的地区鼓励政客迎合大众需求，而不是僵化的极端。
And all of this depends on our participation; on each of us accepting the responsibility of citizenship, regardless of which way the pendulum of power swings.
但是我们要牢记，所有这些目标的实现都不会是自然而然的。所有这些都取决于我们每个人的参与，取决于无论政治风向如何变动，我们都能够承担公民责任。
Our Constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift. But it's really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its own. We, the people, give it power -- with our participation, and the choices we make. Whether or not we stand up for our freedoms. Whether or not we respect and enforce the rule of law. America is no fragile thing. But the gains of our long journey to freedom are not assured.
宪法是我们无可比拟的、天赋的优势。但这只是我们优势的一部分，因为宪法本身是无力的。是我们、是民众给予了它力量。是我们赋予了它意义。是我们通过参与、我们所做的选择和我们结成的联盟做到这一点的。我们是否坚守自由、是否尊重并贯彻法治决定了宪法的力量。这些都取决于我们。美国并不是一个脆弱的国家，但是我们通向自由的旅程并不是安稳无忧的。
In his own farewell address, George Washington wrote that self-government is the underpinning of our safety, prosperity, and liberty, but \weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth;\with \to alienate any portion of our country from the rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties\
乔治华盛顿在他的告别演讲中提到自治是我们安全、繁荣和自由的支柱。但是由于各种各样的原因，取得自治的道路将是艰难的，会有很多阻碍威胁我们对真理的信念。因此我们应该以嫉妒般的敏感保卫我们的信念，任何分离我们国家、割裂将我们维系的神圣纽带的企图都应该被扼杀在襁褓之中。
We weaken those ties when we allow our political dialogue to become so
corrosive that people of good character are turned off from public service; so coarse with rancor that Americans with whom we disagree are not just misguided, but somehow malevolent. We weaken those ties when we define some of us as more American than others; when we write off the whole system as inevitably corrupt, and blame the leaders we elect without examining our own role in electing them.
如果我们允许政治对话变得激烈，以致具备高贵品质的人放弃参与服务民众的工作；如果我们允许政治对话变得粗暴而充满敌意，以致我们的对手被误导而变得不怀好意，那么我们之间的连结就会被削弱。如果我们认为一部分人比其他人更具备自称美国人的资格，如果我们默认整个系统的腐败是不可避免的，如果我们不详加考量便决定自己的选票，那么我们之间的纽带也会被削弱。
It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task we've been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours. Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud title: Citizen.
我们每个人都有责任去敏感警惕地捍卫民主；每个人都应该热情洋溢地投身于发展我们伟大的国家这一使命。因为我们的外表也许不同，但我们都被授予了同一头衔：公民。
Ultimately, that's what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there's an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If you're tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life.
民主需要的就是正是这一点。它需要你的参与。你的参与不应仅限于选举，不应仅限于影响你切身利益的事情，你的参与应该贯穿你的一生。
If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you're disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Persevere.
如果已经厌烦了同互联网上的陌生人争论，那便和现实中的人交流吧；如果遇到了麻烦，那便系好鞋带去行动吧；如果对自己选出的政客失望，那便抓起纸板、写上你的名字然后亲自参加竞选吧。参与进来、投入进去然后坚持到底。
Sometimes you'll win. Sometimes you'll lose. Presuming a reservoir of goodness in others can be a risk, and there will be times when the process disappoints you. But for those of us fortunate enough to have been a part of this work, to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire. And more often than not, your faith in America – and in Americans – will be confirmed.
有时你会成功，有时你将面临失败。假定他人总心怀善意是有风险的，有时你会感到失望。但是对于那些幸运的、得以参与其中一部分工作并见证这些工作得以完成的人来说，他们从中吸取了力量，备受鼓舞。更重要的是，他们对美国、对美国人的信念从中得到了肯定。
Mine sure has been. Over the course of these eight years, I've seen the hopeful faces of young graduates and our newest military officers. I've mourned with grieving families searching for answers, and found grace in Charleston church. I've seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his
sense of touch, and our wounded warriors walk again. I've seen our doctors and volunteers rebuild after earthquakes and stop pandemics in their tracks. I've seen the youngest of children remind us of our obligations to care for refugees, to work in peace, and above all to look out for each other.
我自己对美国及美国人的信念的确也加强了。这八年，我看到那么多年轻毕业生和新晋军官洋溢着希望的脸庞。我和心碎的、失落的家庭一同悲伤，我也曾在查尔斯顿教堂中蒙恩。（译者注：2015年6月17日，在美国南卡罗莱纳州查尔斯顿的一起重大枪击案。一名白人在当地的一座黑人教堂开枪，造成九人死亡，包括一名议员）我看到我们的科学家帮助一个瘫痪男人重获触感，让受伤的战士恢复行走能力。我看到地震后我们的医生和志愿者们开展重建工作、遏止流行疾病的蔓延。我看到很小的孩子用行动和宽容给予我们警醒——我们身负帮助难民的责任，我们应该为实现和平而努力，最重要的是，我们得爱护彼此。
That faith I placed all those years ago, not far from here, in the power of ordinary Americans to bring about change – that faith has been rewarded in ways I couldn't possibly have imagined. I hope yours has, too. Some of you here tonight or watching at home were there with us in 2004, in 2008, in 2012 – and maybe you still can't believe we pulled this whole thing off.
过去的几年，我一直相信普通美国人可以带来改变，这种信念从各个方面使我受益，这在此前是难以预料的。我希望你的信念也能使你受益匪浅。今天现场和电视机前的一部分人，在2004、2008、2012年的时候也和我在一起，也许你们到现在也无法相信我们真的做到了。我想告诉你们，不敢相信的不只有你们。
You're not the only ones. Michelle – for the past twenty-five years, you've