Speech ---- George VI
In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.
For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war.
Over and over again, we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies; but it has bee in vain.
We have been forced into a conflict, for which we are called, with our allies to meet the challenge of a principle which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world.
It is a principle which permits a state in the selfish pursuit of power to disregard its treaties and its solemn pledges, which sanctions the use of force or threat of force against the sovereignty and independence of other states.
Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right, and if this principle were established through the world, the freedom of our own country and of the whole British Commonwealth of nations would be in danger.
But far more than this, the peoples of the world would be kept in bondage of fear, and all hopes of settled peace and of security, of justice and liberty, among nations, would be ended.
This is the ultimate issue which confronts us. For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, and of the world order and peace, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge.
It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own.
I ask them to stand calm and firm and united in this time of trial.
The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield, but we can only do the right as we see the right, and reverently commit our cause to God. If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand, then with God’s help, we shall prevail.
May He bless and keep us all.
在此嚴峻的時刻，也許是歷史上最危急存亡的緊要關頭，我感同身受，如登門拜訪，親身告知般，跟所有海內外的同胞，告知這個訊息。
在我們大部分人的生命裡，這是我們第二次面臨大戰。我們一再地嘗試用和平之道，解決我們與現在的敵人的紛爭。可是，總徒勞無功。
我們被迫捲入一場紛爭，因為，我們與我們的盟邦，得要面臨一場原則理念的抗爭。如果該原則被毀壞，並蔓延開來，對世界上任何文明的秩序，將有極度的危險。
這個信念，讓一個國家，為了追逐自身的權利，漠視自身所簽訂的合約，以及立下的神聖誓言：禁止使用武力，或以武力脅迫其他國家的主權性和獨立性。
這種信念，卸下所有的偽裝，不過就是原始教條的展現：武力就是力量。如果這種信念在整個世界確立，我們國家以及所有大英國協的國家的自由，將很危險。
更甚於此，世界上所有的民族，將被恐懼禁錮，所有國家對和平安全、正義自由的希望，終將蕩然無存。
這是我們面臨的終極挑戰，對於我們所珍視的一切，以及世界的秩序與和平，不去迎接這樣的挑戰，令人難以置信。
就是這個崇高的理念，我現在呼籲國內外的子民，將此重擔視為己任。
我要大家冷靜堅定，面對此次考驗，團結一致。
此番任務，艱困無比。黑暗的日子可能降臨，戰爭也不會僅止於戰場，但是，我們看到了正義，只能依著正義往前行，並虔誠地將此任務託付上帝。如果全國上下，齊聚一心，準備面對所有的任務和犧牲，那麼，因著上帝的幫忙，我們終將戰勝。
但願上帝祝福祝福大家。
For the second time in the lives of most of us, we are at war.
Over and over again, we have tried to find a peaceful way out of the differences between ourselves and those who are now our enemies; but it has bee in vain.
We have been forced into a conflict, for which we are called, with our allies to meet the challenge of a principle which, if it were to prevail, would be fatal to any civilized order in the world.
It is a principle which permits a state in the selfish pursuit of power to disregard its treaties and its solemn pledges, which sanctions the use of force or threat of force against the sovereignty and independence of other states.
Such a principle, stripped of all disguise, is surely the mere primitive doctrine that might is right, and if this principle were established through the world, the freedom of our own country and of the whole British Commonwealth of nations would be in danger.
But far more than this, the peoples of the world would be kept in bondage of fear, and all hopes of settled peace and of security, of justice and liberty, among nations, would be ended.
This is the ultimate issue which confronts us. For the sake of all that we ourselves hold dear, and of the world order and peace, it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge.
It is to this high purpose that I now call my people at home and my peoples across the seas, who will make our cause their own.
I ask them to stand calm and firm and united in this time of trial.
The task will be hard. There may be dark days ahead, and war can no longer be confined to the battlefield, but we can only do the right as we see the right, and reverently commit our cause to God. If one and all we keep resolutely faithful to it, ready for whatever service or sacrifice it may demand, then with God’s help, we shall prevail.
May He bless and keep us all.
在此嚴峻的時刻，也許是歷史上最危急存亡的緊要關頭，我感同身受，如登門拜訪，親身告知般，跟所有海內外的同胞，告知這個訊息。
在我們大部分人的生命裡，這是我們第二次面臨大戰。我們一再地嘗試用和平之道，解決我們與現在的敵人的紛爭。可是，總徒勞無功。
我們被迫捲入一場紛爭，因為，我們與我們的盟邦，得要面臨一場原則理念的抗爭。如果該原則被毀壞，並蔓延開來，對世界上任何文明的秩序，將有極度的危險。
這個信念，讓一個國家，為了追逐自身的權利，漠視自身所簽訂的合約，以及立下的神聖誓言：禁止使用武力，或以武力脅迫其他國家的主權性和獨立性。
這種信念，卸下所有的偽裝，不過就是原始教條的展現：武力就是力量。如果這種信念在整個世界確立，我們國家以及所有大英國協的國家的自由，將很危險。
更甚於此，世界上所有的民族，將被恐懼禁錮，所有國家對和平安全、正義自由的希望，終將蕩然無存。
這是我們面臨的終極挑戰，對於我們所珍視的一切，以及世界的秩序與和平，不去迎接這樣的挑戰，令人難以置信。
就是這個崇高的理念，我現在呼籲國內外的子民，將此重擔視為己任。
我要大家冷靜堅定，面對此次考驗，團結一致。
此番任務，艱困無比。黑暗的日子可能降臨，戰爭也不會僅止於戰場，但是，我們看到了正義，只能依著正義往前行，並虔誠地將此任務託付上帝。如果全國上下，齊聚一心，準備面對所有的任務和犧牲，那麼，因著上帝的幫忙，我們終將戰勝。
但願上帝祝福祝福大家。
