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?