Passion alone is not the determinant of success or failure. Whether or not one succeeds in what he attempts is determined by a combination of circumstances, many of which may beyond his own control.
The only thing that passion is guaranteed to affect is how extreme the outcome will be; passion means that either your success or failure will be spectacular. At some level, you have to respect anyone who is willing to remain true to himself, especially if it ends up being his downfall.
Those who are truly passionate walk a razor-thin line between glory and shame, with no middle-ground to grab onto if they fall.