约翰·肯尼迪: 因此，我的美国同胞们：别问你们的国家能为你们做些什么，而要问你能为你们的国家做些什么。And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.

亚伯拉罕·林肯：迄今，关于世界的历史，人们一直说强权即公理，现在应该让我们，让我们这个时代，来颠倒这种说法，让我们说：公理即强权。It has been said of the world's history hitherto¹ that might makes right. It is for us and for our time to reverse² the maxim³, and to say that right makes might.

罗纳德·里根：各国之间互不信任不是因为它们拥有武装，而它们拥有武装是因为它们互不信任。Nations do not mistrust each other because they are armed; they are armed because they mistrust each other.

约翰·肯尼迪: 人类不结束战争,战争就会结束人类。Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind.

比尔·克林顿：正如我们在本世纪所做过的那样，我们将以榜样的力量去出击，但在必要的时候也要准备好，用我们的力量进行惩戒。As we have throughout this century, we will lead with the power of our example, but be prepared, when necessary, to make an example of our power.

亚伯拉罕·林肯：你可以一时骗过所有的人，也可以在所有时间里骗过一些人，但不能在所有时间里骗过所有的人。It is true that you may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can't fool all of the people all the time.

乔治·蓬皮杜： 政治家是将自己放到他为国家服务的位置上的政客，而政客是将自己放到国家为他服务的位置上的政治家。A statesman⁴ is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service.

吉米·卡特：美国没有创造，实际上，是创造了美国。America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense ... human rights invented America.

富兰克林·D·罗斯福: 我们不能总是为我们的青年造就美好未来，但我们能够为未来造就我们的青年一代。We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.

伍德罗·威尔逊：我宁愿在终将成功的事业中遭受失败，也不愿在必定失败的事业里享受成功！I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose!