We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness。
《独立宣言中》的这个句子:We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain un
一七七六年七月四日大陆会议,美利坚十三个联 合邦一致通过的宣言在有关人类事务的发展过程中, 当一个民族必须解除其和另一个民族之间的政治联 系,并在世界各国之间依照自然法则和自然神明取得 独立和平等的地位时,出于对人类公意的尊重,必须宣 布他们不得不独立的原因。
尽管这个谎在当时未必是美国人想要这样的,但中国人翻译成中文后,在被美国人知道中国是这样理解他们的独立宣言,并以这句话为基础把美国奉为“民主”、“自由”的神明,他们自然乐观其成,因此,在他们的官方的正式中文译文中也就这样写了:“人人生而平等”。
在资讯如此发达的今天,我们都知道这是美国《独立宣言》中的一段文字,但即便是在资讯如此发达的今天,仍然有很多人一看到这几句话就不由自主的热血沸腾、心潮澎湃起来,如同注射了来自美国的大麻和可卡因一样不能自已。
也许是《独立宣言》中最著名的一句话,“我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的,人人生而平等,造物主赋予他们若干不可剥夺的权利,其中包括生命权、自由权和追求幸福”,美国的开国元勋定义了一个好政府必须保障和保护的权利。