Translation homework

Dear Sir,

Being busy with various matters, I am deeply sorry for not being able to reply sooner. In my view, the primary responsibilty of any person is to be self-dependent in order to release others the burden of taking care of his life. In addition, learning how to rigorously and carefully engage in valuble works in the society is a very important education. Its effect will be relfected on all your practices. The habit of doing what you are not interested in while you wish you would rather do somethig else is a very valuable. If I had cultivated this habit while I were young, I would have not waisted a staggering amount of time.

Every achivement in scientifi career requires outstanding talent, deligence and effort. If you have the above mentioned qulaties, you will have the leisure to find a foothold in the scientific community after your daily business hours. If you don't have those qualities, you better stay focus on your current business. The last thing in the world any young man should do is as what Scottish proberb puts it, "made no spoon, destroyed claw", otherwise he will simply make the number in the community of literature, arts and sciences. He will probably be a useful and valuable number of the society if he is working in a different field.

I think you should let your father read this letter as well.

Yours sincerely,

T.H.

亲爱的阁下：

　　近来忙于各种事务，未能及早复信，深感抱歉。

　　依我看来，一个．人的首要职责是设法自立，以免除别人对他生活的负担。此外，学会严谨而审慎地从事社会上有实际价值的工作，其本身就是一种非常重要的教育，其效果必将体现在所有别的事业上。在你宁愿做其他事情的时候，却仍能够从事你不感兴趣的工作，这种习惯是十分可贵的。要是我在年轻时养成了这种习惯，就可以避免时间上惊人的浪费。

　　任何科学事业上的成就，都需要具有不寻常的才能、勤勉和精力。你若具有上述资质，你在日常商业工作之余，将有足够的闲暇为自己在科学界觅得立足之地。你若不具有那种资质，还是一心经商为宜。天下最不足取的事情，莫过于一个年轻人如同苏格兰谚语所说的那样，"匙子没做成，倒毁了羊角，"成为在文学或科学领域里滥竽充数的食客，要是去从事其他工作的话，他或许会成为社会上有用和有价值的一员。

　　我认为此信应请你父亲一阅。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　你的忠实的
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　T．H·赫胥黎