We will always remember them，these skilled professionals，scientists，and adventurers，these artists and teachers and family men and women；and we will cherish each of their stories，stories of triumph and bravery，stories of true American heroes.
On the day of the disaster，our nation held a vigil by our television sets. In one crucial moment our exhilaration turned to horror；we waited and watched and tried to make sense of what we had seen. That night I listened to a call-in program on the radio；people of every age spoke of their sadness and the pride they felt in our astronauts. Across America we are reaching out，holding hands，and finding comfort in one another.
The sacrifice of your loved ones has stirred the soul of our nation and through the pain our hearts have been opened to a profound truth：The future is not free；the story of all human progress is one of a struggle against all odds. We learned again that this America，which Abraham Lincoln called the last，best hope of man on Earth，was built on heroism and noble sacrifice. It was built by men and women like our seven star voyagers，who answered a call beyond duty，who gave more than was expected or required，and who gave it little thought of worldly reward.
We think back to the pioneers of an earlier century，the sturdy souls who took their families and their belongings and set out into the frontier of the American West. Often they met with terrible hardship. Along the Oregon Trail，you could still see the gravemarkers of those who fell on the way. But grief only steeled them to the journey ahead.
Today the frontier is space and the boundaries of human knowledge. Sometimes when—we reach for the stars，we fall short. But we must pick ourselves up again and press on despite the pain. Our nation is indeed fortunate that we can still draw on immense reservoirs of courage，character，and fortitude—that we’re still blessed with heroes like those of the space shuttle Challenger.
Dick Scobee knew that every launching of a space shuttle is a technological miracle. And he said，“If something ever does go wrong，I hope that doesn’t mean the end of the space shuttle program.”Every family member I talked to asked specifically that we continue the program，that that is what their departed loved one would want above all else. We will not disappoint them.
Today we promise Dick Scobee and his crew that their dream lives on，that the future they worked so hard to build will become reality. The dedicated men and women of NASA have lost seven members of their family. Still，they，too，must forge ahead with a space program that is effective safe and efficient，but bold and committed.
Man will continue his conquest of space. To reach out for new goals and ever greater achievements that is the way we shall commemorate our seven Challenger heroes.
Dick，Mike，Judy，E1，Ron，Greg，and Christa—your families and your country mourn your passing. We bid you goodbye；we will never forget you. For those who knew you well and loved you，the pain will be deep and enduring. A nation，too，will long feet the loss of her sons and daughters，her seven good friends. We can find consolation only in faith，for we know in our hearts that you who flew so high and so proud now make your home beyond the stars，safe in God’s promise of eternal life.
May God bless you all and give you comfort in this difficult time.
今天，我们聚集在一起，沉痛地哀悼我们失去的七位勇士，共同分担内心的悲痛，或许在相互间的安慰中，我们能够得到承受痛苦的力量并坚定追求理想的信念。
在所有这些损失中，首先是宇航员们的家人、朋友及他们所爱着的人们所遭受的巨大的个人损失。对那些兄弟、姐妹，尤其是孩子们，在你们悲痛哀悼的日子里，所有美国人都和你们紧紧地站在一起。
今天我们所说的远远不能表达我们内心的真实情感，言语在悲伤面前显得如此苍白，它们根本无法寄托我们对我们所深深爱着的、所深深敬佩的英勇献身的人们的哀思。英雄之所以称之为英雄，并不在于我们颂赞的语言，而在于他们始终以高度的事业心、自尊心和锲而不舍地对神奇而美妙的宇宙进行探索的责任感，去实践真正的生活以至献出生命。
我们所能尽力做到的就是记住我们的七位宇航员，七位“挑战者”，记住他们活着的时候给熟悉他们的人们带来的活力、爱和欢乐，给祖国带来的骄傲。
他们来自这个伟大国家的四面八方——从南加利福尼亚州到华盛顿州，从俄亥俄州到纽约州的莫霍克，从夏威夷州到北加利福尼亚州，再到新罕布什尔州的康科德。他们各有不同，但他们每个人的追求和肩负的使命却又是那样的一致。
我们怀念迪克·斯科比，飞船的指挥官，我们从升空的“挑战者”号听到的最后一句话就来自这位机长之口。在参加太空计划之前，他曾在越南战争中任战斗机飞行员，因过人的勇敢而赢得多枚奖章。在参加太空飞行计划之前是一名高空飞行器的试验飞行员。对机长斯科比来说，危险从来都是如影随行。
我们怀念迈克尔·史密斯，作为战斗机飞行员，他获得过的奖章足以挂满前胸，其中包括海军杰出飞行员十字勋章，三枚空军勋章，和越南政府为感激他保卫该国自由而授予的银星十字勇士勋章。
我们怀念被朋友们叫做朱蕾的朱蒂丝·蕾斯尼科。她总是对人们微笑着，总是渴望有所贡献。在工作之余，她喜欢弹钢琴，从中获得美的享受。
我们怀念埃里森·奥尼祖卡，他孩提时总爱光着脚板在夏威夷的咖啡地和布满碎石的树丛中跑来跑去，梦想有一天去月球旅行。他告诉人们，飞行员的职业帮助他鸿鹏展翅，让他创造职业生涯中那些令人难忘的业绩。
我们怀念罗纳德·麦克耐尔。他告诉人们是南加州的棉田锤炼了他坚毅的性格。他梦想着能够到空间站去生活，在失重的太空中做试验，吹奏萨克斯管。啊，罗恩，我们将永远怀念你的萨克斯管，我们也一定会建成你所梦想的空间站。
我们怀念格里高利·杰维斯，在那次不幸飞行中，他还带着他的母校——布法洛纽约州立大学的校旗。他说，这是一份小小的纪念品。纪念那些曾为他指点过未来的人们。
我们怀念科里斯塔·麦考利芙，她凝聚了整个民族的想象力，她以坚强的意志和永不停息的探索精神激励着我们。她的确是一位老师，不仅是她的学生们的老师，也是全国人民的老师，她以这次奔向未来的太空飞行作为教例，永远地激励着我们。
我们将永远怀念他们，怀念这些杰出的专家、科学家、探险家，怀念这些艺术家、教师和热爱家庭的人们。我们将珍藏他们每个人的故事，这些诉说胜利和勇敢的故事，这些真正的美国英雄们的故事。
就在灾难发生的那天，所有的美国人都关切地守候在电视机前，彻夜不眠。在那个不幸的时刻，我们欢乐的兴奋变成了恐惧的战栗。我们等待着，注视着，想弄清所发生的一切。当天夜里我收听了广播电台的访谈节目。老老少少都在诉说自己的悲哀，都为我们的宇航员感到骄傲。阴霾笼罩着整个国家，我们走出家门，手拉着手，互相安慰。
你们所热爱的人们的牺牲轰动了整个国家。在痛苦中，我们认识到了一个意义深远的真理：未来的道路并不平坦，整个人类前进的历史是与一切艰难险阻斗争的历史。我们又一次领悟到，美国——亚伯拉罕·林肯曾称之为人类在地球上最后、最美好的希望——是在英雄主义和崇高献身精神的基础上建立起来的，是由无数像我们七位宇航员那样的人，那些把全社会的责任作为自己责任的人，那些给予人民比人民期望和要求的更多的人，那些为人类做出贡献而从不企求些微报答的人建立起来的。
我们不禁回想起一个世纪前的开拓者们，那些拖儿带女，举家开发荒凉的美国西部的刚毅不屈的人们，他们常常面临着恶劣的条件。沿着俄勒冈小道，你们仍能看见那些中途倒下去的拓荒者的墓碑。但是悲痛只能使他们更加坚定前进的决心。
今天，我们面临的荒漠就是太空和人类知识的边界。我们向太空进发，虽然结果有时会不尽如人意。但我们必须把失败的悲痛抛开，重整雄风，不断前进。我们的国家的确非常幸运，因为我们依然保持着巨大的勇气、骨气和刚毅不屈的品质，我们仍然有像“挑战者”号上七位宇航员那样的英雄。
迪克·斯科比知道，每一次宇宙飞船的发射都是一个技术上的奇迹。他曾说：“如果出现什么，它决不意味着太空计划的结束。”我所接触的每一位英雄的家庭成员，都特别请求我们一定要继续这项计划，这是他们失去的可爱的亲人所梦寐以求实现的计划。我们决不会令他们失望。
今天，我们向迪克·斯科比和他的队友们保证，他们的梦想没有破灭，他们努力为之奋斗的目标一定会成为现实。国家航空航天局这个大家庭中失去了七位富于献身精神的成员，但其余与他们同样的人们必定会继续前进，开展一项既安全、可行、有效，又大胆而坚定的太空计划。
人类将继续向太空进军，不断确立新的目标，不断取得新的成就。这正是我们纪念“挑战者”号上七位英雄的最好方式。
迪克、迈克、朱迪、埃尔、罗恩、雷格和科里斯塔，你们的家人和祖国都在为你们的离去而哀伤啜泣。永别了，我们会永远记住你们。对熟悉和爱你们的人们来说，痛苦将是沉痛而难以磨灭的；对一个国家来说，她的七位儿女、七位好友的离去是难以弥补的损失。我们只能从信念中寻求安慰，因为我们知道，你们已经自豪地腾飞于广袤的天际，已经在遥远的星际建立了自己的家园，安逸地享受着上帝所赐予的永生。
在这段备受煎熬的日子里，愿上帝保佑你们，并给予你们慰藉！
导读
1986年 1月28日，美国航天飞机“挑战者”号从肯尼迪航天中心发射72秒钟后在1.5 万米的高空突然爆炸，7名机组人员全部遇难。飞机在顷刻间炸成一团红白色火雾，飞机的残骸碎片在一小时内散落到距发射中心9公里的大西洋洋面。1月31日，美国总统里根在休斯顿约翰逊航天中心发表了此篇演说，纪念遇难的7名宇航员。
诵读名句
In one crucial moment our exhilaration turned to horror；we waited and watched and tried to make sense of what we had seen.
Today the frontier is space and the boundaries of human knowledge.
Man will continue his conquest of space. To reach out for new goals and ever greater achievements that is the way we shall commemorate our seven Challenger heroes.
The Tribute of Earl Spencer
致戴安娜的悼词
Charles Edward Maurice Spenor
查尔斯·爱德华·莫瑞斯·斯宾塞
I stand before you today the representative of a family in grief，in a country in mourning，before a world in shock. We are all united，not only in our desire to pay our respects to Diana，but rather in our need to do so. For such was her extraordinary appeal that the tens of millions of people taking part in this service all over the world via television and radio who never actually met her，feel that they too lost someone close to them in the early hours of Sunday morning. It is a more remarkable tribute to Diana than I can ever hope to offer her today.
Diana was the very essence of compassion，of duty，of style，of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. All over the world，a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden，a very British girl who transcended nationality. Someone with a natural nobility，who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic. Today is our chance to say thank you for the way you brightened our lives，even though God granted you but half a life. We will all feel cheated always that you were taken from us so young and yet we must learn to be grateful that you came along at all. Only now that you are gone do we truly appreciate what we are now without and we want you to know that life without you is very，very difficult.
…
Your joy for life transmitted wherever you took your smile and the sparkle in those unforgettable eyes. Your boundless energy which you could barely contain. But your greatest gift was your intuition and it was a gift you used wisely. This is what underpinned all your other wonderful attributes and if we look to analyse what it was about you that had such a wide appeal we find it in your instinctive feel for what was really important in all our lives.
…
And here we come to another truth about her. For all the status，the glamour，the applause，Diana remained throughout a very insecure person at heart，almost childlike in her desire to do good for others so she could release herself from deep feelings of unworthiness，of which her eating disorders were merely a symptom. The world sensed this part of her character and cherished her for her vulnerability whilst admiring her for her honesty. The last time I saw Diana was on July 1st，her birthday，in London，when typically she was not taking time to celebrate her special day with friends，but was guest of honour at a special charity fund raising evening. She sparkled of course，but I would rather cherish the days I spent with her in March when she came to visit me and my children at my home in South Africa.
I am proud of the fact that，apart from when she was on display meeting President Mandela，we managed to contrive to stop the ever present paparazzi from getting a single picture of her. That meant a lot to her. These were days I will always treasure. It was as if we had been transported back to our childhood，when we spent such an enormous time together—the two youngest in the family.
…
I would like to end by thanking God for the small mercies he has shown us at this dreadful time. For taking Diana at her most beautiful and radiant and when she had joy in her private life. Above all we give thanks for the life of a woman I am so proud to be able to call my sister，the unique，the complex，the extraordinary and irreplaceable Diana whose beauty，both internal and external，will never be extinguished from our minds.
今天，我作为一个悲恸的家庭代表，站在你们面前，站在一个受到震惊的世界面前，站在一个举国哀悼的国度里。我们团结在一起，不仅是为了向戴安娜表达我们的敬意，更是因为我们需要这样做。这就是她的魅力，全世界几千万从没有跟她会过面的民众通过电视和收音机参加这次葬礼，他们都感到在这个星期天的早晨失去了一个可亲的人。对戴安娜来说，这个殊荣比我今天希望表达的悼词要强烈和深刻得多。
戴安娜凝聚着怜悯，责任，品格和美丽。在全世界她都是无私人性的象征；是维护被践踏者的权益的旗手，是一个跨越国界的英伦姑娘。她有着自然的高贵，她是无阶级的，并且在她生命的最后一个年头已经证明，她不需要皇室的头衔仍能散发出独特的、属于她的魅力。今天我们有机会对她说，谢谢你点亮了我们的生命，尽管上帝只给予了你半个生命。每当想到你这么年轻就离开了我们，就禁不住有受骗的感觉，但想到你毕竟来过这个世界，我们又应当学会感恩。正是因为你现在的离去才使我们真正地珍惜我们现在没有的。我们想让你知道，没有你的生活是非常非常艰难的。
……
无论在哪里，你的一颦一笑，你那令人难忘的眼神，总把生命的欢愉传给别人。你旺盛不竭的精力好像超出了你身体的蕴涵。但是你最大的天赋是你的直觉，你智慧地运用了这个天赋，而你的天赋又成为你其他美好品质的基础。如果我们仔细地分析，你为什么如此有魅力，我们发现你对于所有人生命中最重要的东西有着本能的直觉。
……
这里我们可以看到她身上的另一个事实。不管社会地位怎么显赫，怎么光彩夺目，人们怎么颂扬，戴安娜内心里始终是一个缺乏安全感的人，她像孩子似的竭力为别人做点好事以解脱她内心深受贬抑、轻视的痛苦，她的厌食也是源于这种忧郁心情的一个病症。全世界都感受到了这一点，并因她的脆弱而珍惜她，同时也因为她的诚实而敬仰她。我最后一次见到戴安娜是在7月1日——她的生日会上。在伦敦，她像往常一样，并没有跟朋友们一起庆祝这个特别的日子，而是作为嘉宾出席了一个慈善募捐晚会。当然那晚她光彩夺目，但我更愿意回想今年3月我们相处的日子，那时她到南非来看我和我的孩子们。
我为之骄傲的一点是，除了她与曼德拉总统的公开会面之外，我们成功地阻止了无处不在的记者的偷拍。这对她非常重要。我将永远怀念那些日子。那些日子就像我们又回到了童年，有很多年我们生活在一起，我和她是家里最小的两个孩子。
……
我要感谢上帝，感谢他在这可怕的时候给予我们的一点慈悲，在戴安娜最美丽、最耀眼的时候，在她的私人生活最快乐的时候将她带走。最后，我要感谢这个我骄傲地称之为姐姐的女性的生命，感谢独特的、难解的、非凡的、无可替代的戴安娜，她的美丽，无论是内在的还是外在的，都将在我们心中永存。
导读
1997年8月31日，36岁的英国王妃戴安娜在巴黎撞车身亡。全球为之扼腕。一个星期后，戴安娜的弟弟斯宾塞伯爵代表家族发表了这篇发自肺腑的演讲。
诵读名句
Diana was the very essence of compassion，of duty，of style，of beauty.
The world sensed this part of her character and cherished her for her vulnerability whilst admiring her for her honesty.
Only now that you are gone do we truly appreciate what we are now without and we want you to know that life without you is very，very difficult.
The Fringe Benefits of Failure，and the Importance of Imagination
哈利·波特的缔造者J·k·罗琳：失败的好处和想象的重要性
J.k.Rowling/J·k·罗琳
I was convinced that the only thing I wanted to do，ever，was to write novels. However，my parents，both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college，took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that could never pay a mortgage，or secure a pension.
They had hoped that I would take a vocational degree；I wanted to study English Literature. A compromise was reached that in retrospect satisfied nobody，and I went up to study Modern Languages. Hardly had my parents’ car rounded the corner at the end of the road than I ditched German and scuttled off down the Classics corridor. I cannot remember telling my parents that I was studying Classics；they might well have found out for the first time on graduation day. Of all subjects on this planet，I think they would have been hard put to name one less useful than Greek mythology when it came to securing the keys to an executive bathroom.
I would like to make it clear，in parenthesis，that I do not blame my parents for their point of view. ...... I cannot criticise my parents for hoping that I would never experience poverty. They had been poor themselves，and I have since been poor，and I quite agree with them that it is not an ennobling experience. Poverty entails fear，and stress，and sometimes depression；it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts，that is indeed something on which to pride yourself，but poverty itself is romanticised only by fools.
A mere seven years after my graduation day，I had failed on an epic scale.
An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded，and I was jobless，a lone parent，and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain，without being homeless. The fears my parents had had for me，and that I had had for myself，had both come to pass，and by every usual standard，I was the biggest failure I knew.
That period of my life was a dark one. I had no idea how far the tunnel extended，and for a long time，any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality.
So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was，and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else，I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged?
I was set free，because my greatest fear had already been realised，and I was still alive，and I still had a daughter whom I adored，and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.
Failure gave me an inner security that I had never attained by passing examinations. Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will，and more discipline than I had suspected；I also found out that I had friends whose value was truly above rubies.
You will never truly know yourself，or the strength of your relationships，until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift，for all that it is painfully won，and it has been worth more to me than any qualification I ever earned.
…
The fact that you are graduating from Harvard suggests that you are not very well-acquainted with failure.You might be driven by a fear of failure quite as much as a desire for success. Indeed，your conception of failure might not be too far from the average person’s idea of success，so high have you already flown academically.
