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Dear sir,
Iamverysorrythatthepressureofotheroccupationshaspreventedmefromsendinganearlierreplytoyourletter.
Inmyopinionaman’sfirstdutyistofindawayofsupportinghimself,
therebyrelievingotherpeopleofthenecessityofsupportinghim.
Moreover, thelearningtodoworkofpracticalvalueintheworld,
inanexactandcarefulmanner, isofitselfaveryimportanteducation,
theeffectsofwhichmakethemselvesfeltinallotherpursuits.
Thehabitofdoingthatwhichyoudonotcareaboutwhenyouwouldmuchratherbedoingsomethingelse, isinvaluable.
ItwouldhavesavedmeafrightfulwasteoftimeifIhadeverhaditdrilledintomeinyouth.
Successinanyscientificcareerrequiresanunusualequipmentofcapacity, industry, andenergy.
Ifyoupossessthatequipment, youwillfindleisureenoughafteryourdailycommercialworkisover,
tomakeanopeninginthescientificranksforyourself.
Ifyoudon't, youhadbettersticktocommerce.
Nothingislesstobedesiredthanthefateofayoungmanwho,
astheScotchproverbsays, in “tryingtomakeaspoonspoilsahorn,”
andbecomesamerehanger-oninliteratureorinscience,
whenhemighthavebeenausefulandavaluablememberofSocietyinotheroccupations.
Ithinkthatyourfatheroughttoseethisletter.
Yoursfaithfully, T. H. Huxley.