Talent is the Least Important

Stephen Sondheim lets you know how important he thinks talent is, in this letter to a young Adam Guettel.

“I think you’re serious, literate, intelligent and talented — and, surprisingly, the last is the least because it means little without the others.”

Stephen Sondheim, in a letter to Adam Guettel

I think Sondheim actually put these in the correct order of importance. Talented < Intelligent < Literate < Serious.

What about you?