How tough is it to be a physicist?

I'm considering it as a career, but I don't know how intelligent you have to be to write papers on a consistent basis and be a decent physicist.
In all my math/science courses I'm getting mid-high 90's without trying, but is this enough?

Lol, as if isn't obious.

Talent + Hard work

And i disagree with the most here.

Hard work is limited (hello time).
You can't do more at a certain point without going into the other direction, so being contra-productive!

Then the talent kicks in.

This story with the rabbit and the turtle is pretty laughable.
I mean, who the hell does go to university for Physics if he/she hasn't got any interests?!

Perhaps you can publish some papers (within a team).

But forget it to become the next Newton, Planck, Einstein,Heisenberg, Feynman and many more just with hard work.

You have to judge yourself if you have the potential or not.