"That noise may be amusing for half an hour," said Pococurante*, "but if it lasts any longer it bores everyone, although no one dares to admit it. Music nowadays is nothing but the art of composing and performing difficult pieces, and things that are merely difficult never give lasting pleasure."
 
* Pococurante is a contrived name meaning "caring little."
 
Candide [1759]
- Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet) [1694-1778]
Bantam Classic series, p. 100.