I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. And that provides plenty of fodder for the cynics that tell us that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos or the domain of special interests. But if you ever get the chance to talk to folks who turned out at our rallies and crowded along a rope line in a high school gym, or saw folks working late in a campaign office in some tiny county far away from home, you'll discover something else.

You'll hear the determination in the voice of a young field organizer who's working his way through college and wants to make sure every child has that same opportunity.

You'll hear the pride in the voice of a volunteer who's going door to door because her brother was finally hired when the local auto plant added another shift.

You'll hear the deep patriotism in the voice of a military spouse whose working the phones late at night to make sure that no one who fights for this country ever has to fight for a job or a roof over their head when they come home.

That's why we do this. That's what politics can be. That's why elections matter. It's not small, it's big. It's important. Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.

That won't change after tonight, and it shouldn't. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty. We can never forget that as we speak people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today.

But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America's future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best schools and the best teachers.

A country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation, with all the good jobs and new businesses that follow.

We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn't weakened by inequality, that isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.

We want to pass on a country that's safe and respected and admired around the world, a nation that is defended by the strongest military on earth and the best troops this -- this world has ever known.

But also a country that moves with confidence beyond this time of war, to shape a peace that is built on the promise of freedom and dignity for every human being. We believe in a generous America, in a compassionate America, in a tolerant America, open to the dreams of an immigrant's daughter who studies in our schools and pledges to our flag.

To the young boy on the south side of Chicago who sees a life beyond the nearest street corner.

To the furniture worker's child in North Carolina who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an engineer or an entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a president -- that's the future we hope for. That's the vision we share. That's where we need to go -- forward.

That's where we need to go.

Now, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there. As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. It's not always a straight line. It's not always a smooth path.

By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won't end all the gridlock or solve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin. Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending. A long campaign is now over.

And whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you've made me a better president. And with your stories and your struggles, I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead.

我知道有时候政治竞选看起来渺小，甚至愚蠢，这为愤世嫉俗者们提供了很多素材。他们告诉我们，政治不过是为特殊利益集团服务的猴戏。但如果你曾经同参加过我们的集会的普通人，或是在高中体育馆围线外排队的人们交谈过；或是看到在远离家乡的小郡县竞选办公室里工作到很晚的人们，你一定会有新的认识。

你会在一位年轻的竞选活动现场组织者的声音中，听到无比的坚定。他半工半读地上着大学，想让每个孩子都能拥有和他一样的机会；

你会在一名志愿者声音中，听到她的自豪。她挨家挨户助选拉票，告诉每一个人，她的兄弟终于有了工作，因为当地的汽车厂增加了一个轮班给了他机会；

你会在一位军人的妻子的声音中听到满满的爱国情怀。她为助选打电话直到深夜，只是为了确保那些曾经为国家抛头颅洒热血的军人回家之后，无需再为一份工作、一个住处，再次走上“战场”。

这就是我们现在所做的一切，这就是政治的真谛，这才是大选如此重要的原因。它并不渺小，这是大事情，是至关重要的事情。在这个拥有3亿人口的国家，民主会显得喧哗、混乱、复杂。我们都有自己的观点，每个人都有自己坚定的信仰。当面对艰难的时刻，当我们的国家需要作出重大决定的时候，它必然会激发热情，也掀起争议。

这些在今晚之后都不会改变，也不应该被改变。这些争论是我们自由的印记。我们永远不会忘记我们说话的时候，许多国家的人民仍然在冒着风险，希望能够找到解决问题的方法，希望能够争取投票的权利。

尽管我们有很多的分歧，我们中的大多数，对美国的未来怀有一样的希望。我们希望自己的孩子成长在这样一个国家：他们能去到最好的学校，有最好的老师；

它不会辜负前人留下的遗产，继续成为全球科技、探索、创新的领导者，有好的工作、新的产业随之而来；

我们希望自己孩子成长的美国，不会被债务负累，不会因不平等而有所削弱，也不会被地球变暖而带来的危害所威胁。

我们想要传承的，是一个安全的、在全球备受尊敬与爱戴的国家，一个由世界最强军事力量保卫，拥有最好的军队的国家。

同时，也是一个自信前行的国家———走出战争的阴霾，塑造和平景象，保障每个人的自由与尊严。我们相信美国是一个慷慨大度的国家、一个悲天悯人的国家，更是一个海纳百川的国家。我们要接纳在我国学校学习并对我们的国旗宣誓，满怀梦想的移民的女儿；

要接纳身处芝加哥南部市井之中却能志存高远的男孩；

还要接纳北卡州家具工人的孩子，他们梦想着成为医生、科学家、工程师、企业家、外交官，甚至是总统——那正是我们所期望的未来，是我们共有的愿景，是我们需要“前进”的方向。

那是我们的目标。

对于如何实现这一目标，我们可能会意见相左，有时分歧甚大，两个多世纪以来，一直如此。我们的进步不是一蹴而就，也不是一帆风顺，我们伴随着很多分歧和不同。

我们意识到我们有着共同的梦想，将会使我们结束僵局，努力的促成问题的解决。我们需要妥协，需要使我们国家的继续向前进，这样一种团结的力量是我们现在出发的基础。我们的经济正在复苏，为期十年的战争已近尾声，一场漫长的竞选现已结束。

无论我是否赢得了你的选票，我都倾听了你的呼声，从你身上得到了教益，你使我成长为更好的总统。我将会记得你们的故事、你们的抗争。当我回到白宫时，对面临的任务与未来，将更为坚定，更有激情。