After the first half of the twentieth century – the bloodiest period of human history – the continent’s leaders returned from the battlefield to lay the foundations of lasting European peace. Europe may never regain its standing as the center of the world, but it can continue to be both an important actor and an attractive model for others.
另一方面，欧洲曾经面临过更糟糕的情况——比现在糟糕得多——并且也变得比以往更强大。二十世纪上半叶过去后——这是人类历史上最血腥的时期——欧洲大陆领导人从战场归来，为维持欧洲和平打下基础。欧洲也许永远都不能回到世界舞台的中央，但它可以继续成为重要行动方和有吸引力的榜样。