英语课前三分钟演讲【实用16篇】

英语课前三分钟演讲（精选16篇）

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇1

Good evening ，Ladies and Gentlemen:Thank you very much for choosing to come in such a cold night.Today my topic is about choice and process.A research shows that a man has to make 73 choices one day.With so many choices one day， people easily get so confused and afraid of making wrong choice that they hesitate and finally miss the true part of life. In my opinion， the following part is of much more importance than the choice. There is no absolute right or wrong choice but wonderful or boring life， which the process makes the difference.Life is a box of chocolate，you never know what you will get. Forrest Gump made no decision by and for himself but he accomplished great success with his strong will in the process. The process is not the road itself but the attitudes and feelings ，the caution， courage and persistance we have as we encounter new experience and unexpected obstacles. Take myself as an example， I changed my major when I became a postgraduate. After the choice，days have been harsh for me.I cannot understand the new lessons at all. For they are closely related to mathmatics which I learned nothing about before. However wuth the belief that this is the great chance for me to experience new ideas and challenge myself，I persisted. I asked for help from every channel and reorgonized my life. Gradually I could understand some parts and even found maths interesting.Moreover， I learned to act instead of complaining. In retrospect，the choice left no trace in my mind but the happiness and bitterness of the past four months becomes an unforgetable experience in my life.NO matter what the choice is， enjoy the process. In the process， your potential will be inspired and new discoveries，improvement and progress will come to you. These are the most beautiful sceneries and only on the way can you see it.These make your life colorful.There is no need and I donnot want to judge whether it right or wrong for me to be here，but I congratulate to myself for I gain and enjoy this fantastic experience. So my dear friends，never worry about your choice and enjoy the process. I am sure you will get something new and intersting tonight after you chose to come here. Thank you!

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇2

How to Sell Yourself

In this competitive society it is essential to know how to sell yourself in order to get the job you want. That means you must be able to market your best features and present yourself in the best light. After all, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

There are several things you can do to project a good image in an interview. First of all, look like a winner. Dress conservatively and well, and you'll look like you're going to the top. Second, communicate clearly. Consider each question carefully and respond with total honesty. Remember to make eye contact and maintain good posture. You need to look attentive but also at ease. Third, have a positive and assertive attitude. It's important to appear confident of your ability and optimistic about your future. Finally, be prepared. Present a professional resume and be ready to explain everything in detail.

By following the advice above, you are bound to make a good impression on potential employers. Then you will be able to choose the best opportunity for you and take that first step towards success.

如何自我推销

在这个竞争激烈的社会中，为了得到你想要的工作，知道如何自我推销是很重要的。也就是说，你必须能够销售你最好的特点，并把你最好的一面呈现出来。毕竟，第一印象定江山。

要在面试时表现出好的一面，你可以做几件事情。首先，要看起来像个赢家。穿着保守而体面，会使你看起来像是就要成功了。第二，要能清楚地表达。仔细地考虑每个问题，并据实回答。记得要和对方有目光接触，并保持良好的姿势。你必须看起来专注而自在。第三，态度要积极而有自信。对你的能力有信心，并对你的未来感到乐观是很重要的。最后，要充分准备。递上一份专业的简历，并准备好详细解释每件事。

遵照以上的建议，你就一定会给可能成为你老板的那些人，留下好的印象。然后你就可以选择对你而言最好的机会。并踏出迈向成功的第一步。

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇3

ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,

i am chinese. i am proud of being a chinese with five thousand years of civilization behind. i've learned about the four great inventions made by our forefathers. i've learned about the great wall and the yangtze river. i've learned about zhang heng(张衡)and i've learned about zheng he(郑和).who says the yellow river civilization has vanished(消失)?i know that my ancestors have made miracles(奇迹)on this fertile land and we're still making miracles. who can ignore the fact that we have established ourselves as a great state in the world, that we have devised our own nuclear weapons, that we have successfully sent our satellites into space, and that our gnp ranks no. 7 in the world? we have experienced the plunders (掠夺) by other nations, and we have experienced the war. yet, based on such ruins, there still stands our nation----china, unyielding and unconquerable!

i once came across an american tourist. she said, “china has a history of five thousand years, but the us only has a history of 200 years. five thousand years ago, china took the lead in the world, and now it is the us that is leading.”my heart was deeply touched by these words. it is true that we're still a developing nation, but it doesn't mean that we can despise (鄙视) ourselves. we have such a long-standing history, we have such abundant resources, we have such intelligent and diligent people, and we have enough to be proud of. we have reasons to say proudly： we are sure to take the lead in the world in the future again, for our problems are big, but our ambition (雄心) is even bigger, our challenges (挑战) are great, but our will is even greater.

i am chinese. i have inherited (继承) black hair and black eyes. i have inherited the virtues of my ancestors. i have also taken over responsibility. i am sure, that wherever i go, whatever i do, i shall never forget that i am chinese!

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇4

what is happiness? it is a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction. it is usually experienced when there are no worries, fears or obsessing thoughts, and this usually happens, when we do something we love to do or when we get, win, gain or achieve something that we value. it seems to be the outcome of positive events, but it actually comes from the inside, triggered by outer events.

for most people happineseems fleeting, because they let changing outer circumstances affect it. one of the best ways to keep it, is by gaining inner peace through daily meditation. as the mind becomes more peaceful, it becomes easier to choose the happinehabit.

here are a few tips for increasing happinein daily life:

1) endeavor to change the way you look at things. always look at the bright side. the mind may drag you to think about negativity and difficulties. don't let it. look at the good and positive side of every situation.

2) think of solutions, not problems.

3) listen to relaxing, uplifting music.

4) watch funny comedies that make you laugh.

5) each day, devote some time to reading a few pages of an inspiring book or article.

6) watch your thoughts. whenever you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, start thinking of pleasant things.

7) always look at what you have done and not at what you haven't.

sometimes you may begin the day with the desire to accomplish several objectives. at the end of the day you might feel frustrated and unhappy, because you haven't been able to do all of those things.

look at what you have done, not at what you have not been able to do. you may have accomplished a lot during the day, and yet you let yourself become frustrated, because of some small things that you did not accomplish. you have spent all day successfully carrying out many plans, and instead of feeling happy and satisfied, you look at what was not accomplished and feel unhappy. it is unfair toward yourself.

8) each day do something good for yourself. it can be something small, such buying a book, eating something you love, watching you favorite program on tv, going to a movie, or just having a stroll on the beach.

9) each day do at least one act to make others happy. this can be a kind word, helping your colleagues, stopping your car at the crossroad to let people cross, giving your seat in a bus to someone else, or giving a small present to someone you love. the possibilities are infinite. when you make someone happy, you become happy, and then people try to make you happy.

10) always expect happiness.

11) do not envy people who are happy. on the contrary, be happy for their happiness.

12) associate with happy people, and try to learn from them to be happy. remember, happineis contagious.

13) do your best to stay detached, when things do not proceed as intended and desired. detachment will help you stay calm and control your moods and reactions. detachment is

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇5

I received a devastating blow to my self-confidence in the first interview of my college years. I applied to be a host in our Student Acting Troupe and felt confident that I would be accepted. But one of the panel members told me: "You seem inadequate and you are a little vertically-challenged." My life has never been the same since. I used bigger heels to complement my height and psychological maneuvers and tricks to hide my lack of confidence. But no matter how hard I tried to look the part, there was still something missing.

As president of English Club, I organized the rehearsal of Snow White for an English party. Unfortunately, we could not find an actor to be the last dwarf. It had to be someone who was humorous by nature and fluent in English. Suddenly, all eyes turned to me, and I knew I would have to be the dwarf. To my great surprise and delight, once on stage, I was totally absorbed in the performance and my humorous nature was put to full use. As the dwarf, I was a big hit.

Yes, each of us is only one among millions of others, but each of us is an individual and each of us is unique. Cultivating our individuality will transform our lives, making of them a kaleidoscope of new colors and textures.

A world deprived of diversity would be a bland and boring place. The real tragedy is not being short or shy or ugly, but having your identity lost in a world in which everyone is a clone of a model cool boy or a flawless charming girl.

Given a choice, I would rather be ugly than live in such a world. I'd rather be a genuine dwarf accompanying a Snow White than be a Snow White among nothing but Snow Whites. I would rather be myself. I would contribute my individual and unique colors to create a more diverse universe. Please, be yourself.

译文:我重树信心

大学生活的几年里，当我参加第一次面试时，我的自信心受到了沉重的打击。我向“学生剧团”申请出演一个主角，而且我十分自信地认为我会被录用。但是,其中有个剧团成员告诉我:“你似乎不太合适出演这个角色，因为你的身高有点问题。”我从未遇到过这种情况。我穿着高跟鞋来弥补我的身高，采用心理策略和技巧来掩盖自己信心的缺乏。但是，不论我怎样努力进入角色，感觉还是缺少些什么。

作为英语俱乐部的主席，我为英语晚会组织排演了《白雪公主》短剧。不幸的是，我们找不到合适的人选出演最后一个小矮人。这个角色必须生性幽默，英语流利。突然，所有人的目光都转向了我，我知道那个小矮人就是我了。让我极度奇怪而又高兴的是，一上台，我完全投入到演出中，而且我那幽默的天性被发挥得淋漓尽致。作为一个‘’小矮人”，我取得了巨大的成功。

的确，我们中的任何一个人都是千百万中的一员，但我们中的每个人都是一个与众不同的个体。发挥我们自己的个性会改变我们的生活，使它们成为美丽的万花筒。

失去了多样性的世界是个冷漠、乏味的地方。真正的悲剧不是个矮、害羞或丑陋，而是将自己的个性迷失在一个克隆的世界里，那里到处都是典型的酷男孩或无瑕、迷人的好姑娘。

如果让我选择，我宁可面貌五陋，也不愿生活在这样一个世界里。我宁可做一个伴随“白雪公主”的真实的小矮人，也不愿做“白雪公主”世界里的一个白雪公主。

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇6

Learn How to Say No

We've all been taught that we should help people. It is the right thing to do and will make us popular with others. It may even win us favors in return. However, we must be realistic. We can't say yes to every request. If we did, we would fail or go crazy for sure. Sometimes we simply don't have the time to help. In this case, we must know how to say no politely.

When we need to say no, here is one method we can try. First, we should tell the truth. If we really can't do something, we should just say so. Second, we should remember to refuse requests politely. We must communicate clearly, but must also be sincere and sympathetic. A true friend will understand. Finally, we must not feel guilty about saying no. Sometimes refusing others is the right thing to do. It can save ourselves, and them, a lot of trouble. In short, we cannot please everyone all the time. Refusing favors is a part of life.

学习如何说不

我们都被教导说，我们应该要帮助别人。这是应该做的事，而且这样做会使我们受人欢迎。它甚至会为我们赢得一些回报。但是，我们必须要实际一点。我们不能答应每一个要求。如果我们这么做，我们就一定会失败或发疯。有时候我们确实没有时间去帮忙。既然如此，我们就必须知道如何有礼貌地说不。

当我们需要说不的时候，有个办法我们可以试试。首先，我们应该要说实话。假如我们真的办不到某件事，我们就应该说不。第二，我们应该记得要客气地拒绝对方的要求。我们必须清楚地表达，但态度也必须真诚并且表示同情。一个真正的朋友会谅解的。最后，我们不必为了说不而觉得有罪恶感。有时候拒绝别人才是我们应该做的事。它可以替我们自己和别人，都省下许多麻烦。总而言之，我们无法一直取悦每个人。拒绝请求是人生的一部分。

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇7

sara, who comes from canada, is our oral english teacher. she is loved and respected by many students. what influences me most is that she is warm-hearted, generous and easy-going. she always stays optimistic and tries hard to understand every of her student. besides, she often tells us some interesting stories and jokes in class, so as to make a happy atmosphere for us to study english. she loves teaching so much and has the eagerness to devote her life to education. because of her outstanding achievements, she had won lots of rewards, one of which is “model teacher” prize.

the principal of the school focuses on education rather than waste time in endless meetings and social activities. teachers’ wages are not high but enough to live comfortably. there are no other things to do except to teach. there are no paper requirements, no titles and no ranks because they don’t need to be judged by those things. almost every teacher is a well-known scholar and master in a particular field. a language teacher may be a writer at the same time. a math teacher may try to overcome a world-class guess. a physics teacher can win invention awards and a music teacher may return from an international music competition again.

in short, in this school, the principal is satisfied, the teachers are happy and the students are joyful. that’s my dream.

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇8

As everyone knows,English is very important today.It has been used everywhere in the world.It has become the most common language on Internet and for international trade. If we can speak English well,we will have more chance to succeed.Because more and more people have taken notice of it,the number of the people who go to learn English has increased at a high speed.

But for myself,I learn English not only because of its importance and its usefulness,but also because of my love for it.When I learn English, I can feel a different way of thinking which gives me more room to touch the world.When I read English novels,I can feel the pleasure from the book which is different from reading the translation.When I speak English, I can feel the confident from my words.When I write English,I can see the beauty which is not the same as our Chinese...

I love English,it gives me a colorful dream.I hope I can travel around the world one day. With my good English, I can make friends with many people from different contries.I can see many places of great intrests.I dream that I can go to London,because it is the birth place of English.

I also want to use my good English to introduce our great places to the English spoken people,I hope that they can love our country like us.

I know, Rome was not built in a day. I believe that after continuous hard study, one day I can speak English very well.

If you want to be loved, you should learn to love and be lovable. So I believe as I love English everyday , it will love me too.

I am sure that I will realize my dream one day!

Thank you!

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇9

Ladies and Gentlemen：

It’s our great honor and deepest pleasure to welcome you, our dear friends, both old and new from all over China, all over Asia, and all over the world.

On behalf of our dedicated classmates, our distinguished teachers, foreign friends, especially our gracious host, the No.2 LongGang High School ，we greet you and encourage you to seize upon this unique opportunity to conquer English and make lifelong friends with people from every province of our wonderful country and throughout the world. By conquering English, we can help ourselves and others.

We are human beings, not animals. We know what we want to do. We know our destiny is in our hands. With hard work and determination, we can do anything we set our minds to do.

From today on we will accompany you day and night every minute on this unique journey.

We want you to open your heart.

We want you to be devoted.

We want you to be crazy.

We want you to forget about your face.

We want you to open your mouth wildly.

We want you to broaden your mind.

We want you to expand your horizons.

We want you to conquer your laziness and all your other human weaknesses.

We want you to overcome all the obstacles that hold you back.

We want to share your joy and we want to share your struggle, but most important of all, we want to share your glory and victory!

We are the future of China, the future of Asia, and the future of the world!

We can make the world a better place.

We can make a difference.

We desire to win.

We must win!

We will win, absolutely, and without any doubt!

From painfully shy children who felt terrible about ourselves, who regarded ourselves as human trash, born losers, to internationally recognized English promoters, we made it. we strongly believe that you will make it too!

Let’s do it together!

We have confidence in you!

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇10

Learn How to Say No

We've all been taught that we should help people. It is the right thing to do and will make us popular with others. It may even win us favors in return. However, we must be realistic. We can't say yes to every request. If we did, we would fail or go crazy for sure. Sometimes we simply don't have the time to help. In this case, we must know how to say no politely.

When we need to say no, here is one method we can try. First, we should tell the truth. If we really can't do something, we should just say so. Second, we should remember to refuse requests politely. We must communicate clearly, but must also be sincere and sympathetic. A true friend will understand. Finally, we must not feel guilty about saying no. Sometimes refusing others is the right thing to do. It can save ourselves, and them, a lot of trouble. In short, we cannot please everyone all the time. Refusing favors is a part of life.

学习如何说不

我们都被教导说，我们应该要帮助别人。这是应该做的事，而且这样做会使我们受人欢迎。它甚至会为我们赢得一些回报。但是，我们必须要实际一点。我们不能答应每一个要求。如果我们这么做，我们就一定会失败或发疯。有时候我们确实没有时间去帮忙。既然如此，我们就必须知道如何有礼貌地说不。

当我们需要说不的时候，有个办法我们可以试试。首先，我们应该要说实话。假如我们真的办不到某件事，我们就应该说不。第二，我们应该记得要客气地拒绝对方的要求。我们必须清楚地表达，但态度也必须真诚并且表示同情。一个真正的朋友会谅解的。最后，我们不必为了说不而觉得有罪恶感。有时候拒绝别人才是我们应该做的事。它可以替我们自己和别人，都省下许多麻烦。总而言之，我们无法一直取悦每个人。拒绝请求是人生的一部分。

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇11

as we know, you have to learn how to fly much more independently instead of under your parents’ considerate protection when you get into college, which also means you will come across enormous questions that should be solved by yourself. from my point of view, those main problems can fall into three parts.

first of all, the complicated relationship. for one thing, you have to know how cultural differences function in your relationship and respect them. in addition, college students spend less time studying together owing to different courses’ choosing, which requires us to devote more energy to building relationship. for the other thing, it is also vital to communicate with your parents often by using mobile phones or other tools.

htmlsecondly, the temptations. the college serves us a more relaxed environment mixed with other temptations such as the internet, alcohols and so on. what’s more, the college teachers won’t compel you to study like before, you doze off or play cell phone in class, and you flee up the morning class because you get up too late. such too frequent behaviors will cripple your passion and enthusiasm towards life, so it is essential for us to resist these temptations and insist pursuing our own goals.

thirdly, the balance between study and work. most of us will choose to take a part time job to earn the extra money or just to exercise ourselves. but it is significant to keep a relatively balanced relationship between them since i always regard the study as our main task, so my principle is adjusting work to follow the schedule of study.

in conclusion, whatever issues we meet or miseries we suffer from, confront the hash reality head on, what we can do is remembering the past, living in the present and looking forward to the future.

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇12

as people’s thoughts control their bodies, computer programs play a leading role in the modern times. both social progress and human evolution depend on the computer programs. in the practical application, a software consists of different programs and then combines with hardware to develop into a high-tech electronic product. there are many kinds of electronic products found everywhere in our daily life. nearly all the time do we make use of these products to conduct our passion.

yes, it is definitely right that programming is a hard work because of its special characteristics---complicated, time-wasted, logical. to make a program needs our continual patient and confidence, and we should accept failure again and again in most cases. but once you go into further understanding of computer programs, you will be surprised at the programs’ wander. in detail, through programming a heap of date or a computing model can be easily solved we expected, such as a number wanted, or the model’s parameters. the magical power of program appeals to all the programmers, certainly including me.

it is of great convenience for us to simplify or model our complex questions by programming. furthermore, studying and using programs can enforce us to form our ability of analyzing and logic. computer language has its regular grammar. how to organize the language into a reasonable calculating method in a high efficiency like speaking easy-understanding and breath-saving words, is an awful challenge for us, and it will be very funny.

now, software is more and more important in our life, therefore programmer becomes a popular profession, which is one urgent need in the society. for our country, it’s very important to ensure our national security from others, such as japan. enhancing military strength makes us pay more attention to the informationalized war that attached intensely to the fundamental function of program and software. it is truth that china has a huge population of 1.4 billion, which means messy things from all the people every day. also, to govern the society orderly all benefit from information composed by programs.

take a more closer example, in the classroom, we are graduate students of engineering, and will be occupied in researching and designing work. thus, not only is programming our tool in study, but also become a weapon that promoting science and technology and producing invention and innovation.

i love programming, because of its powerful function. i love programming, because of its abundant application.

i love programming, because of its terrible challenge.

i love programming, but i am not intend to be an outstanding programmer, nor making a great researching achievement. i just want to know it and do what i want with it.

i hope you firstly remove the horrible psychology upon programming, and then try to get in touch with it. at last, i hope programming gives you much happiness in life!

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇13

How to Be Popular

Most people would like to be popular with others, but not everyone can achieve this goal. What is the secret to popularity? In fact, it is very simple. The first step is to improve our appearance. We should always make sure that we stay in good shape and dress well. When we are healthy and well-groomed, we will not only look better but also feel better. In addition, we should smile and appear friendly. After all, our facial expression is an important part of our appearance. If we can do this, people will be attracted to our good looks and impressed by our confidence.

Another important step is developing more consideration for others. We should always put others first and place their interests before our own. It's also important to be good listeners; in this way people will feel comfortable enough to confide in us. However, no matter what we do, we must not gossip. Above all, we must remember to be ourselves, not phonies. Only by being sincere and respectful of others can we earn their respect. If we can do all of the above, I am sure popularity will come our way.

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇14

Since entering the new century, we can never stop creating xuzhou city civilization. So long why create a civilized society, however, did not create good play?

What is called a civilized city? Civilized city means all live in harmony, all AnLv keepeth his, everyone to lead by example. This is also we don't have a good civilization the important factor of the city.

Regardless of we are ordinary people, first said the outrageous "officer the second generation". They thinks the body out of the club, they feel superior, it can be arrogant, even the proud parents abandoned ignore. If the city on the "official second generation" to education, may let them turn, become the backbone of the motherland.

Say again we are ordinary citizens. The day before yesterday, I saw a group of about the newspaper pictures of yunlong lake uncivilized phenomenon. To me the deepest impression is a middle-aged man lying on the bench. He blue sky.another 1 "sleep" on the bench, but "occupy" the land of the rest of the visitors to rest. If our visitors who went to shake him, would like to change, perhaps the people will say, after all, this also is a good thing!

For the social construction of civilized cities, each of us to participate, as long as to eliminate the uncivilized factors, I believe that our xuzhou will have a better tomorrow!

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇15

First i want to ask you some questions:

1、 Do you know what is youth?

2、 How do you master your youth?

Youth is not a time of life, it is a state of mind ; it is not rosy cheeks , red lips and supple knees, it is a matter of the emotions : it is the freshness ; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life .

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite , for adventure over the love of ease. this often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20 . nobody grows old merely by a number of years . we grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years wrinkle the skin , but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul . worry , fear , self –distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust .

Whether 60 of 16 , there is in every human being ‘s heart the lure of wonders, the unfailing childlike appetite of what’s next and the joy of the game of living . in the center of your heart and my heart there’s a wireless station : so long as it receives messages of beauty , hope ,cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long as you are young .

When the aerials are down , and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old ,even at 20 , but as long as your aerials are up ,to catch waves of optimism , there is hope you may die young at 80.

thank you!

英语课前三分钟演讲 篇16

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our healthcare is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the west; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise healthcare's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach f; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.