語文課前三分鐘演講稿高中(七篇)

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    演講稿也叫演講詞,它是在較為隆重的儀式上和某些公眾場合發(fā)表的講話文稿。那么我們寫演講稿要注意的內(nèi)容有什么呢?下面我?guī)痛蠹艺覍げ⒄砹艘恍﹥?yōu)秀的演講稿模板范文,我們一起來了解一下吧。
    語文課前三分鐘演講稿高中篇一
    大家好!
    今天的課前演講,我想先給大家講個(gè)故事:有個(gè)女孩,在月臺(tái)上追趕一張被風(fēng)吹飛了的紙。熱心的人們看見她萬分焦急的樣子,以為那是一張對(duì)她十分重要的紙,便紛紛加入追趕的隊(duì)伍,可那張紙仿佛要存心捉弄大家,飛起又落下,落下又飛起來,像附了魂一樣。越是這樣,女孩追它的決心就越大。
    終于,在眾人的努力下,那張紙乖乖地就范了。那個(gè)追到紙的人,得意地將戰(zhàn)利品遞給女孩。女孩優(yōu)雅地向大家道謝,然后拿著紙?jiān)诒娔款ヮブ伦叩揭粋€(gè)垃圾筒跟前,將它塞了進(jìn)去,回過身,她微笑著對(duì)大家說:好了,現(xiàn)在它終于去了它該去的地方。
    故事講到這里,也許你會(huì)詫異于女孩的舉動(dòng),也許你會(huì)懷疑于故事的真實(shí)。好了,先放下這些都不說,同學(xué)們,讓我們一同回憶:在我們的周圍,在我們的身邊,是否有垃圾從同學(xué)的手中滑落,成為路面上醒目的感嘆號(hào)?是否有隨手丟棄的塑料袋在風(fēng)中"翩翩起舞"?是否會(huì)在廁所潔白的墻壁上看到幾個(gè)刺眼的腳印?
    同樣的,在你的周圍,是否有人大聲叫嚷,讓你的耳膜陣陣發(fā)聾?是否有人口出臟話,污言穢語,招來人們鄙視的目光?是否有人唏噓起哄,吹口哨,叫人不可思議,令人費(fèi)解?
    當(dāng)發(fā)生這一切的時(shí)候,在它們主人的身上其實(shí)是丟掉了一樣?xùn)|西,那就是文明--幾千年來中華民族寶貴的精神財(cái)富。這財(cái)富世代相傳,它應(yīng)該在你的身邊:她是路上相遇時(shí)的微笑;是同學(xué)有困難時(shí)的熱情幫助;是平時(shí)與人相處時(shí)的親切與關(guān)懷;是不小心撞到對(duì)方時(shí)一聲"對(duì)不起";是自覺將垃圾放進(jìn)垃圾箱的舉動(dòng);是看到有人隨地吐痰、亂拋亂扔時(shí)的主動(dòng)制止;是走廊內(nèi)的輕聲慢步;是宿舍里暖融融的家的感覺。它是一種品質(zhì),一種修養(yǎng),一種受人尊敬的并被大家廣泛推崇的行為。
    綠樹紅花,朗朗的讀書聲,暖人的話語,整潔的儀表,那是一幅美麗的畫面。所以當(dāng)有人離文明遠(yuǎn)去的時(shí)候,請(qǐng)你溫馨地提醒他:你掉了一樣?xùn)|西。
    謝謝大家!
    語文課前三分鐘演講稿高中篇二
    敬愛的老師,親愛的同學(xué)們:
    大家好!
    今天我演講的題目是《改變不了環(huán)境,就改變自己》。
    著名的文學(xué)家托爾斯泰曾經(jīng)說過:“世界上只有兩種人:一種是觀望者,一種是行動(dòng)者。大多數(shù)人想改變這個(gè)世界,但沒人想改變自己。”想要改變現(xiàn)狀,就要改變自己;要改變自己。就得改變自己的觀念。一切成就,都是從正確的觀念開始的。一連串的失敗,也都是從錯(cuò)誤的觀念開始的。要適應(yīng)社會(huì),適應(yīng)環(huán)境,適應(yīng)變化,就要學(xué)會(huì)改變自己。
    柏拉圖告訴弟-子自己能夠移山,弟-子們紛紛請(qǐng)教方法,柏拉圖笑道,說:“很簡單,山若不過來,我就過去?!钡?子們一片嘩然。
    這一個(gè)世界上根本就沒有移山之術(shù),唯一的一個(gè)移動(dòng)山的方法就是:山不過來,我便過去。同樣的道理,人不能改變環(huán)境,那么我們就要改變自己。
    一個(gè)黑人小孩在他父親的葡萄酒廠看守橡木桶。每天早上,他用抹布將一個(gè)個(gè)木桶擦干凈,然后一排排地整齊地放好。令他生氣的是,往往一夜之間,風(fēng)就把他排列整齊的木桶吹得東倒西歪。
    小男孩很委屈地哭了。父親摸著小男孩的頭說:“孩子,不要哭,我們可以想辦法去征服風(fēng)?!?BR>    于是小男孩擦干了眼淚坐在木桶邊想啊想,想了半天終于想出了一個(gè)辦法,他從井邊挑來一桶又一桶的清水,然后把它們倒進(jìn)那些空空的橡木桶里,然后他就忐忑不安地回家睡覺了。第二天,天剛蒙蒙亮,小男孩就匆匆地爬了起來,他跑到放桶的地方一看,那些橡木桶一個(gè)一個(gè)排列得整整齊齊,沒有一個(gè)被風(fēng)吹倒的,也沒有一個(gè)被風(fēng)吹歪的。小男孩開心地笑了,他對(duì)父親說:“要想木桶不被風(fēng)吹倒,就要加重木桶的重量。”男孩的父親贊許地微笑了。
    是的,我們不能改變風(fēng),改變不了這個(gè)這個(gè)世界上的許多東西,但是我們可以改變自己,給自己加重,這樣我們就可以適應(yīng)變化,不被打敗!
    在威斯敏斯特教堂地下室里,英國圣公會(huì)主教的墓碑上寫著這樣一段話:當(dāng)我年輕自由的時(shí)候,我的想象力沒有任何局限,我夢想改變這個(gè)世界。當(dāng)我漸漸成熟明智的時(shí)候,我發(fā)現(xiàn)這個(gè)世界是不可改變的,于是我將眼光放得短淺了一些,那就只改變我的國家吧!但是我的國家似乎也是我無法改變的。當(dāng)我到了遲暮之年,抱著最后一絲努力的希望,我決定只改變我的家庭、我最親近的人——但是,唉!他們根本不接受改變?,F(xiàn)在我在臨終之際,我才突然意識(shí)到:如果起初我只改變自己,接著我就可以依次改變我的家人。然后,在他們的激發(fā)和鼓勵(lì)下,我也許能改變我的國家。再接下來,誰又知道呢,也許我連整個(gè)世界都可以改變。
    人生如水,人只能去適應(yīng)環(huán)境。如果不能改變環(huán)境,就改變自己,只有這樣,才能克服更多的困難,戰(zhàn)勝更多的挫折,實(shí)現(xiàn)自我。如果不能看到自己的缺點(diǎn)和不足,只是一味地埋怨環(huán)境不利,從而把改變境遇的希望寄托在改變環(huán)境上,這實(shí)在是徒勞無益。
    雖然我們不能改變世界,但我們可以改變自己,讓我們用愛心和智慧來面對(duì)一切環(huán)境。
    語文課前三分鐘演講稿高中篇三
    語文是中華民族國語的基礎(chǔ),是我們學(xué)會(huì)文字表達(dá)的工具,也是我們認(rèn)識(shí)世界、面向世界、改造世界的武器。
    我想起了魯迅先生,他是上世紀(jì)初中國文化的旗手。面對(duì)貧窮落后的祖國,他立志報(bào)國,遠(yuǎn)渡東洋求醫(yī)。學(xué)成回國后,他發(fā)現(xiàn):中國落后的原因不是疾病,而是文化的落后,他棄醫(yī)從文,拿起筆桿子,發(fā)表很多雜文隨感,抨擊黑暗落后,喚醒了大眾。
    我想起了毛澤東,在抗日戰(zhàn)爭勝利后到重慶與蔣中正談判,期間發(fā)表一首著名的詩篇:《沁園春.雪》,讓蔣中正大怒,匯集很多詩人編詩,要搶占鰲頭,卻一敗涂地。毛澤東以激昂文字,指點(diǎn)江山,奪得了中國革命的勝利!在這里,我想告訴大家的是,我對(duì)語文的學(xué)習(xí),也有一個(gè)認(rèn)知的過程。開始我以為語文不用學(xué),誰不會(huì)說中國話?在學(xué)習(xí)中,我開始認(rèn)識(shí)到學(xué)語文的重要性。我在語文課中,不僅學(xué)到了寫作、閱讀、分析,好學(xué)到了很多道理。我愛語文課了!
    同學(xué)們:讓我們學(xué)好語文,感受到語言的魅力,為今后的成長打下堅(jiān)實(shí)的基礎(chǔ)吧!
    前不久,我讀了一則童話故事,它是英國作家王爾德寫的《巨人的花園》。故事講的是一個(gè)巨人看到孩子們?cè)谧约旱幕▓@里玩耍,很生氣,他在花園周圍筑起了高墻,將孩子們拒于墻外。從此以后,園里花不開,鳥不語,一片荒涼,春夏秋都不肯光臨,只有冬天永遠(yuǎn)留在這里。一天,孩子們從墻洞爬進(jìn)來,春天也就跟著孩子們來了,園里立刻變得生機(jī)勃勃。當(dāng)他把孩子們?cè)俅乌s出花園之后,花園又被冰雪覆蓋了。后來,在小男孩的啟發(fā)下,巨人醒悟了,隨即拆除了圍墻,花園成了孩子們的樂園,巨人生活在漂亮的花園和孩子們中間,感到無比地幸福……
    王爾德的這個(gè)快樂故事,讓我的心久久不能平靜,那個(gè)巨人,他兩次的自私與冷酷給花園帶來了冰雪寒冬,讓孩子們失去歡樂的同時(shí),他自己也同樣孤單寂寞,更享受不到花園里明媚的景色!我們常說:“贈(zèng)人玫瑰,手有余香”。其實(shí),快樂也一樣,給別人快樂,自己也快樂。
    我還記得這樣幾句名言:“把你的痛苦與人分享,你的痛苦將會(huì)減少一半;把你的快樂與人分享,你的快樂將增加一倍?!笔前?,分享快樂不會(huì)使自己損失什么,卻能讓這個(gè)世界充滿溫情。相反,有了快樂,一個(gè)人獨(dú)樂,最終也不會(huì)快樂。
    與別人一起分享快樂是一種美德,因?yàn)榭鞓纺軌騻魅尽F鋵?shí)很多時(shí)候,與別人分享快樂,既是給了別人一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì),也是給了自己一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì);既給了別人一個(gè)好心情,自己也留下了一份好心情。
    既然這樣,那么請(qǐng)打開你的心靈,真誠地與別人分享吧——自己是一團(tuán)火,就要想法把別人點(diǎn)亮;自己是一盆水,就要想法把別人洗凈;自己是一粒米,就要想法長出更大的稻穗;自己是一彎月,就要想法給夜行人送去清輝……與人共享快樂,你也會(huì)更加快樂!
    語文課前三分鐘演講稿高中篇四
    各位同學(xué):
    大家好!
    小草看到蒼松的偉岸,便立志發(fā)奮圖強(qiáng),可經(jīng)歷千辛萬苦,還是一株普通的小草;蜩與學(xué)鳩看到扶搖直上的大鵬,便極希望自己也能鵬程萬里,于是冬練三九,夏練三伏,可臨終也沒有“若垂天之云”的雙翼,更沒有“水擊三千里,摶扶搖而上者九萬里”的輝煌。
    它們付出努力了,卻沒有實(shí)現(xiàn)自己的目標(biāo)。為什么呢?因?yàn)樗鼈儧]有認(rèn)清自己,沒有把握好自己應(yīng)該努力的方向。
    一個(gè)人若想得到成功女神的垂青,努力、奮斗雖必不可少,但認(rèn)清自己的實(shí)力,把握好自己奮斗的方向顯得猶為重要。
    正是認(rèn)清了自己在文學(xué)方面的缺陷,班超毅然投筆從戎,使自己不僅在軍事方面取得較高的成就,而且也保衛(wèi)了大漢江山的穩(wěn)定與繁榮。楊振寧坦然面對(duì)自己的失敗,認(rèn)真分析原因,正確地評(píng)估自己的能力,最終,他卸下了“實(shí)驗(yàn)物理”的專業(yè)抱負(fù),改修“理論物理學(xué)”,在理論方面,他駕輕就熟,一日千里,最終摘下“諾貝爾獎(jiǎng)”的桂冠。
    認(rèn)清了自己的方向,努力才是通向成功的捷徑,奮斗才會(huì)有結(jié)果,很難想象潘長江能夠在nba的賽場上搶籃板、搶斷、扣籃……也很難想象姚明穿著時(shí)尚的服裝,站在舞臺(tái)上將歡聲笑語送進(jìn)千家萬戶。
    如果不能成為自己的伯樂,不能認(rèn)清自己,努力方向與實(shí)際南轅北轍,那么再多的努力,再多的汗水也只能是石沉大海——沒有一點(diǎn)壯觀的波瀾,再多的付出也不會(huì)得到回報(bào)。現(xiàn)實(shí)中,我們每個(gè)人不一定都要轟轟烈烈,流芳百世,每一個(gè)人的事業(yè)不一定都要驚天動(dòng)地,垂名千古,只有適合自己的,才是最好的。
    做自己的伯樂,發(fā)現(xiàn)自身的閃光點(diǎn),認(rèn)清自己奮斗的方向,把握自己,經(jīng)過堅(jiān)持不懈地奮斗,經(jīng)過挫折的暴風(fēng)雨,才會(huì)出現(xiàn)鷗翔魚游的天水一色。
    同學(xué)們,只有認(rèn)請(qǐng)你的方向,走出失敗的荊棘地,前面才是鋪滿鮮花的康莊大道。
    謝謝大家!
    語文課前三分鐘演講稿高中篇五
    當(dāng)走到門前,望了望那破舊的門樓,嘴角微微抽動(dòng)了一下,邁開了步子,走了進(jìn)去。走進(jìn)院后,直奔大雜院西南角的一個(gè)小破屋。推開門,里面只有一張床、一張桌子、一把椅子,他把鋪蓋及兩個(gè)包袱放到了床上,鋪好床。把一張雷鋒的畫像,貼到了有點(diǎn)發(fā)黑的墻上;把一串風(fēng)鈴掛到了窗子上面的一個(gè)釘子上,風(fēng)一吹叮當(dāng)叮當(dāng)……
    丁當(dāng),一個(gè)孤兒,窮的啥也沒有,長的也一般,但有一點(diǎn)不同于常人的地方,額頭上有一條疤,讓人看了就害怕,長約五厘米。他就佩服一個(gè)人―雷鋒,他也不知道為什么。
    晚上丁當(dāng)下班回來,累了一天倒在床上就睡著了。
    “有賊啊!捉賊啊!”
    丁當(dāng)一下子坐了起來,打開門沖了出去……聲音是從剛退休的王大爺屋里傳出來的。
    兩天過去了。
    “王大爺,我看你那兩千元退休金,準(zhǔn)是西南屋那小子偷的,一看他頭上的疤,就知道他不是什么好東西!”
    “對(duì),準(zhǔn)是他,前天我聽見王大爺喊捉賊,馬上就出來了,就看見那小子正溜呢!哼,肯定是他!”
    “沒錯(cuò),要不啥叫做賊心虛呢?看,不敢回來了吧!”
    大家對(duì)王大爺丟錢的事議論紛紛。
    “我覺得不像他,雖然小偷蒙著頭,我看不清楚。但個(gè)頭不太像啊!”王大爺說道
    大家有的搖了搖頭、有的嘆了口氣,聽王大爺這么一說,大家都覺得沒什么好說的了,也就散了。
    兩個(gè)月過去了。
    這天,丁當(dāng)一拐一拐的走進(jìn)了那個(gè)破大門。
    “聽說那個(gè)小偷回來了,腿還一拐一拐的?!?BR>    “指不定又干啥壞事了唄!哼!膽子也真夠大的?!?BR>    丁當(dāng)在屋里聽見了外面的議論,漲紅了臉,呆呆的坐在床上,他在想……
    傍晚,院里的五、六個(gè)壯丁,在王大爺?shù)膸ьI(lǐng)下,沖進(jìn)了西南角的那間破屋子,進(jìn)去一看??湛杖缫?。一張床、一張桌子、一把椅子?!?-的,讓那小子跑了!”王大爺叫道
    丁當(dāng)并非窮,他每月的收入都在,供兩個(gè)孤兒上學(xué)、吃飯。那串風(fēng)鈴就是他們送的。他在一次大火中,不顧自己的生命危險(xiǎn),救出了被困在大火中的一家,在出來的過程中,不小心被一塊磚頭砸到了腦袋上,縫了十幾針,留下了一條又深又長的疤……
    幾天后,幾個(gè)穿制服的人,給王大爺送回來了那兩千元錢。還給王大爺說:“有一個(gè)小伙子,為了不讓小偷把錢帶走,腿上讓小偷刺了好幾刀子!”
    大家都聽的目瞪口呆。
    丁當(dāng)來到了另外一所小城市。
    這天,空氣熱的沒有一點(diǎn)兒風(fēng),西下的太陽哄烤著大地。一個(gè)小男孩在公路上玩耍,街道兩旁只三三兩兩的行人。
    從遠(yuǎn)出急馳過來一輛汽車,離小孩子越來越近,30m、20m、10m,路旁的行人,有的尖叫、有的張大了嘴巴、有的瞪大了眼睛……小孩子絲毫沒有察覺自己正站在死亡線上.8m、5m,汽車也沒有要停下來的意思.突然,一個(gè)熟悉的身影躥了出來雙手托起小孩,扔到一邊……
    “咯吱!”汽車轱轆從他的左腿上軋了過去,旁邊人的,尖叫聲更大了、嘴巴張的更圓了、眼睛瞪的跟乒乓球似的.
    汽車開過老遠(yuǎn)后,有人跑了過來.“噢!寶貝,有事沒?”一位母親捧著她那哭泣的兒子說,這才扭過頭來問:“先生,受傷了嗎?”說著撩起了他的褲子,看見腿上接著一根折了的木頭……一串風(fēng)鈴從包袱里掉了下來.
    叮當(dāng)、叮當(dāng)……
    語文課前三分鐘演講稿高中篇六
    各位年輕的朋友:
    大家好!
    如果有人問你:什么是精彩?你會(huì)怎樣回答?戰(zhàn)爭年代的踴躍參軍,八十年代的文學(xué)熱,還是九十年代的出國熱?對(duì),它們都是精彩。每個(gè)時(shí)代有每個(gè)時(shí)代的精彩,每個(gè)時(shí)代也造就了不同的精彩,但無論怎樣,精彩總是與青春緊緊相連。
    記得走進(jìn)大學(xué)的第一天,輔導(dǎo)員就告訴們,老狼校園民謠里輕松自如的大學(xué)生活在這個(gè)年代已經(jīng)一去不復(fù)返了。九十年代宣揚(yáng)的"讀書無用論"也早已被熱火朝天的"考研"、"考證"熱吹得無影無蹤。時(shí)代已經(jīng)將新一代的青年推向了社會(huì)的最前沿。因此,要尋找屬于這一代人的精彩。
    為了活得精彩,要擁有目標(biāo)和信念。目標(biāo)是心頭的一盞明燈,信念是鼓舞你向著目標(biāo)邁進(jìn)的力量源泉。目標(biāo)可能飄渺,路途可能坎坷。然而只要確定一盞明燈,就能讓你順利地泅過危難的海洋!傳說中的火鳳凰,它迎著太陽飛翔,為的就是將自己的身體點(diǎn)燃,因?yàn)橹挥腥紵拍苤厣?。這多少有一些悲壯。但又確是一幅壯美的畫面。因?yàn)閵^斗拼搏的過程無比精彩!
    為了活得精彩,必須擁有知識(shí)和技能。知識(shí)是成功的基礎(chǔ),技能是實(shí)現(xiàn)成功的工具。人類步入二十一世紀(jì),世界多極化,信息全球化,知識(shí)信息量在以百倍的速度遞增。面對(duì)這樣的現(xiàn)實(shí),昔日象牙塔里輕松自在的場景早已不見,取而代之的是尋找精彩的一雙雙熾熱的目光。社會(huì)將競爭的殘酷帶到了的身邊,從而也造就了新一代青年的自強(qiáng)和向上。有一句話說"機(jī)遇留給有所準(zhǔn)備的人",那么,年青的朋友們,讓早早準(zhǔn)備。
    為了活得精彩,還要有不斷超越的精神。魯迅先生曾說,"不滿是向上的靈魂"。時(shí)代的進(jìn)步使新事物以讓人難以置信的速度發(fā)展。沒什么鐵飯碗,沒什么保質(zhì)期。無論什么時(shí)候,都必須以起跑線上的姿態(tài)去迎接挑戰(zhàn)。只有不斷地學(xué)習(xí)和提高,才能跟得上這個(gè)精彩的大時(shí)代。
    永遠(yuǎn)究竟有多遠(yuǎn)?沒有人知道。只是歷史長河中的小小一滴水。然而既是青春的擁有者,就沒有理由不為自己喝彩,沒有理由不活得精彩!都將老去,但不是為了永遠(yuǎn)的青春而來,而是為了感受和不同的青春而來。從現(xiàn)在開始,讓活得精彩!
    謝謝大家!
    語文課前三分鐘演講稿高中篇七
    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 inspanidual 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.