20 Choosing an Occupation

T. H. Huxley

Dear sir,

I am very sorry that the pressure of other occupations has prevented me from sending an earlier reply to your letter.

In my opinion a man's first duty is to find a way of supporting himself, thereby relieving other people of the necessity of supporting him. Moreover, the learning to do work of practical value in the world, in an exact and careful manner, is of itself a very important education, the effects of which make themselves felt in all other pursuits. The habit of doing that which you do not care about when you would much rather be doing something else, is invaluable. It would have saved me a frightful waste of time if I had ever had it drilled into me in youth.

Success in any scientific career requires an unusual equipment of capacity, industry , and energy. If you possess that equipment, you will find leisure enough after your daily commercial work is over, to make an opening in the scientific ranks for yourself. If you don't, you had better stick to commerce. Nothing is less to be desired than the fate of a young man who, as the Scotch proverb says, in “trying to make a spoon spoils a horn,” and becomes a mere hanger-on in literature or in science, when he might have been a useful and a valuable member of society in other occupations.

I think that your father ought to see this letter.

Yours faithfully,
T. H. Huxley

难词释义

relieve [rɪˈliːv] v. 减轻，缓和（不快或痛苦）

frightful [ˈfraɪtfl] adj. 极坏的；很糟的

drill [drɪl] n./v. 培训；训练；练习

drill sth. into sb. 反复训练某人；向某人反复灌输

industry [ˈɪndəstri] n. 勤奋；勤劳

hanger-on [ˌhæŋərˈɑːn] n. 逢迎者；攀附权贵者

选择职业

T.H.赫胥黎

亲爱的先生：

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。在你更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