Dear Sir
My apologies for not replying sooner as I have been busy with various matters recently. In my view, the most important responsibility of a human being is to be self-dependent so as to not becoming the burden of others. In addition, learning to conduct meaningful work diligently and dutifully is by itself an important education which holds its effects on other careers. It is a valuable ability of doing what you are not really interested in while your preference is something else. If I had had this good habit when I was young, I would have avoided huge waste of time.
Any achievement in science acquires various outstanding talents, diligence and energy. If you possess those qualities, you will have enough time to pursue career in science outside of your daily business routine. However if you do not have those qualities, you are better off staying in the business world. The most undesirable thing in the world is none other than what’s said in a Scottish proverb – made no spoon while horn wasted. A mediocre in the field of art and science might be a valuable individual of the society if he pursues other careers.
I think this letter should be read by your father.
親愛的閣下：
近來忙於各種事務，未能及早複信，深感抱歉。
依 我看來，一個人的首要職責是設法自立，以免除別人對他生活的負擔。此外，學會嚴謹而審慎地從事社會上有實際價值的工作，其本身就是一種非常重要的教育，其 效果必將體現在所有別的事業上。在你寧願做其他事情的時候，卻仍能夠從事你不感興趣的工作，這種習慣是十分可貴的。要是我在年輕時養成了這種習慣，就可以 避免時間上驚人的浪費。
任何科學事業上的成就，都需要具有不尋常的才能、勤勉和精力。你若具有上述資質，你在日常商業工作之餘，將有足夠的閑暇為自己在科學界覓得立足之地。你若不具有那種資質，還是一心經商為宜。天下最不足取的事情，莫過於一個年輕人如同蘇格蘭諺語所說的那樣，"匙子沒做成，倒毀了羊角，"成為在文學或科學領域裏濫竽充數的食客，要是去從事其他工作的話，他或許會成為社會上有用和有價值的一員。
我認為此信應請你父親一閱。
