太拗口了，翻不好

Dear Sire,

      I apologize for my late reply to your letter due to my recent miscellaneous matters.

      In my opinion, the primary responsibility of one is to be independent to avoid being a burden to others. Other than that, working conscientiously and scrupulously on something of practical values in our society is an important education itself, with effects reflected in all other works engaged. It is a very valuable habit to undertake a work that you are not interested in when you have other preferences. If I had this habit when I was young，I could have avoided the tremendous waste of time.  

Any scientific achievement was supported by one’s extraordinary talent, hardworking and energy. If you have the qualities listed above, you will have enough spare time to find a foothold among the scientists, besides your daily business work. If you do not have those qualities, you’d better focus on your  business work. The last thing a young man wants to do, as in a Scottish saying, is to “make a spoon, spoil a horn”.  Rather than being a potboil in science or in literature, he might be useful and valuable in a society if he takes other jobs.

     I think you should ask your father to read this letter.

your loyally,