Choosing An Occupation
时间：2019-01-09 作者：英语课 分类：英语背诵文选第一册
Hodeslea, Eastbourne,
November 5, 1892
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(1) of supporting himself,thereby relieving other people of(2) 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(3) a very important education, the effects of which make themselves felt(4) 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 1. It would have saved me a frightful 2 waste of time if I had ever had it drilled into me in youth.(5) 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(6) in the scientific ranks for yourself. If you do not, 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,"(7) and becomes a mere 3 hanger- on in literature or in science, when he might have been a useful and a valuable member of Society in other occupations.(8)
I think that your father ought to see this letter.
Yours faithfully,
T. H. Huxley
- A computer would have been invaluable for this job.一台计算机对这个工作的作用会是无法估计的。
- This information was invaluable to him.这个消息对他来说是非常宝贵的。
- How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
- We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。