I'd say programming requires skill and passion. The only way to become a good programmer is through hard work and learning new things. To keep on going forward

I'd say programming requires skill and passion. The only way to become a good programmer is through hard work and learning new things. To keep on going forward while learning something hard, or while debugging problems that seem impossible, or while making countless mistakes requires passion. Maybe not passion for programming itself, but for solving problems or creating something from nothing. Without any kind of passion to drive me I'd be burned out and miserable by now.