Her playing was slow, almost stately. Too many people think speed is the hallmark of a good musician. It’s understandable…But how quickly you can finger notes is the smallest part of music. The real key is timing. It’s like telling a joke. Anyone can remember the words. Anyone can repeat them. But making someone laugh requires more than that. Telling a joke faster doesn’t make it funnier. As with many things, hesitation is better than hurry.

from Chapter 10 of The Wise Man’s Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss