michael_nielsen

Yes. The quote comes from a book Charlton wrote. Your comment applies to much of the book, and I wish he'd address it more directly. People are often careerist for very good reasons (to eat, have shelter etc). The tradeoff between careerism and idealism is difficult to manage.

If there are such people, I must automatically avoid them like poop on the sidewalk.

I've noticed it's relatively uncommon in mathematics. I attribute this to the fact people feel less pressure to get grants. I know physicists who've spent their entire career wanting to work on quantum foundations, for instance, but who do it rarely, since it's "not fundable".