That, my friends, is life. But just as the struggles are great, so are the rewards. There's another way to look at it: ask yourself if you really have a choice. You already knew the answer to that question the first day you walked into LaGuardia. We owe it to our families and to ourselves to keep striving.
我的朋友们，这就是生活。但是奋斗越是艰辛，回报也会更加丰厚。用另一个方式看问题：问问你自己，你是不是真的有选择。当你们走进拉瓜迪亚社区大学的第一天，你们已经知道了这个问题的答案。我们必须为了自己的家庭和自己而不断努力。

This is certainly not the easiest of economic times, but there's always an economic cycle. In the course of the next 50 years of your life, you'll see alot of cycles, and like this one, you'll get through it. Don't get caught up in unrealistic optimism or detached pessimism.
现在显然不是最好的经济时期，但是经济总是有一个周期的。在你们人生的下一个五十年，你们会经历很多周期，和这次一样，你们能够顺利渡过。不要有任何不切实际的乐观或者是过分的悲观。

Still, a lot can change rapidly and with a lot of force. Your security rests in knowing how to do a variety of things -- and being able to do them better than others.
尽管如此，世上还会发生许多不测，带来巨大影响。你们的安全感来自于知道如何做各种各样的事情——而且比其他人做得都要好。

And that knowledge and ability can be obtained only through a willingness to strike out for something better. That could mean changing careers or pushing for a new idea or strategy in your current one. In either case, push yourself to try something new and to grow with each move.
而只有不断追求卓越，才能获得这些知识和能力。这意味着改变职业道路或者追求目前职业新的想法、新策略。不管是哪种情况，你都应该逼迫自己尝试新的事物，在每一步中成长。

After college, I went to law school for three years, and then into my dream job at a big NY law firm. But even though it had been my dream, I didn't like it once I got there.
读完大学，我在法学院度过了三年，之后在一间大的纽约律师事务所得到了自己梦想中的工作。虽然这曾一直是我的梦想，但是当我得到时，我发现我并不喜欢它。

For the first time, I was feeling financially secure, but I knew I wasn't passionate enough about what I was doing. And because I didn't love it, I would never be fulfilled from it, or be really good at it. Someone who loved it more would have greater enthusiasm and focus. For some it was fun; for me it was always going to be a chore.
虽然在我人生中，我第一次在财务上获得了保障，但是我知道我对我自己做的那些事情并没有足够激情。而且，因为我并不爱的工作，我将永不可能从中得到满足，或者是真的擅长这份工作。更爱这种工作的人会更积极地专注于它。对有些人来说，这是乐趣，对我来说，这永远是一份苦差。

After five years at a law firm, I decided I wanted to try something different. I came home and told my wife I was quitting, and she cried. And not out of happiness. Anyway, it worked out. I got a new job at a small Wall Street firm, we got bought out by a larger firm, and I ended up remaining at a large firm... Goldman Sachs.
在五年的律师事务所工作之后，我决定要尝试一些不同的东西。我回家告诉我的妻子我要辞职，她哭了，而且不是因为高兴。不管怎么说，事情还算顺利，我在一间华尔街的小企业中找到了新的工作，之后被更大的企业收购，我也得以进入这个更大的机构，高盛集团。

In my career, I've been fortunate to know and work with many of this country's top CEOs and business leaders. I'm always struck by a certain passion that defines them. While they may be wealthy and powerful, their passion goes beyond money and power.
在我的职业生涯中，我很幸运能够认识，并且与很多全国顶级的首席执行官以及商界领袖们共同工作。我总是能够被造就他们成功的那种激情所打动。他们也许非常有钱，权势惊人，但是他们的激情远远超越了金钱和权力。

I won't stand here and tell you those are bad things. They can be pretty good, but only if you have a larger purpose in mind. If you don't have passion for your work or the drive to make a better life for your kids than your own, then you won't have what it takes to keep you going.
今天我在这里不是要告诉你们金钱和权力的坏处。只要你的头脑中有一个更大目标，钱与权相当有益。如果你对自己的工作没有激情，或者是没有动力为你的孩子打造比你自己更好人生，那么你就不会有那些让你持续前进的东西。