How important are my grades to the rest of my PhD career?

Speaking to the faculty in my program, I've noticed that they seem to evaluate themselves and others using two criterion: (1) publication quality and quantity, and (2) ability to obtain grant money. No one discusses grades or performance in graduate school classes. Even when potential faculty candidates come around, this doesn't seem to be emphasized at all. What role do grades play in my PhD career?

Answer

As far as your research stature is concerned, grades would matter least of all, below other non-academic stuff as your soft-skills, your personality etc. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. 
   

   No one cares about your GPA once you are a researcher! While it certainly looks nice to have a stellar GPA, it's the work that you do and where you publish that would matter. Look up some resumes of notable faculty in your field - how many even list their MS/BS grades?

   
   


2. 
   
   

   I might even say that your adviser would not be too happy if you have a 4.0 GPA - as it means you are spending time on perfecting your grades which is more profitably spent on research! I actually have read this on a faculty/university webpage - would post the link once I dig it up. EDIT: Haven't found the faculty website link yet, but here's a couple from an established source, phdcomics - enjoy!

   
   

PS: I'm actually waiting for JeffE to comment on this: His credentials are such that I'm not even qualified to state them, and he himself claims that he had the lowest undergraduate GPA amongst any professor he's ever met!

EDIT: I'm talking about grades in subjects that you have to take as part of requirements of grad school - you would be expected to master the subjects that are directly required in your Ph.D research thesis, so your adviser would expect great grades in them naturally!

tl;dr - They don't matter (as long as you clear all your subjects!)