Aaronson's talking about a much narrower field than Adams though. While success might beget passion in the case of science, I think that would happen in childh

Aaronson's talking about a much narrower field than Adams though. While success might beget passion in the case of science, I think that would happen in childhood and the seed would already be planted. If you make it to adulthood and pursue a career in theoretical science then I think you must have a very deep well of not only passion, but probably obsession to have any success at all.