it bears repeating

There are really only two kinds of people: those who look for excuses to do things, and those who look for excuses not to do them. You have to cut off the alibi-makers, or they will corrupt and demoralize you. Everything else we might say about a person (such as “brilliant”) is secondary to the question of whether they are moving forward, or rather looking for excuses to delay and sabotage themselves and others.

And to repeat, this is simply a health issue, not a snobbery issue. Probably everyone has a few areas of life where they tend to manufacture alibis rather than dealing with reality, and people who are parasites and obstructors when it comes to academic work could possibly be life-enhancing angels in other areas. (Though the chances may not be very high.)