The "C++ too complex" story would be very funny if it was not so sad. It originates from the fake "interview" Bjarne allegedly gave to the "Computer" magazine,

The "C++ too complex" story would be very funny if it was not so sad. It originates from the fake "interview" Bjarne allegedly gave to the "Computer" magazine, here is an example of it (http://harmful.cat-v.org/software/c++/I_did_it_for_you_all http://harmful.cat-v.org/software/c++/I_did_it_for_you_all or just google for "sroustrup x-window interview" there are many similar texts) where Bjarne allegedly says that the goal of C++ was to be so complex that nobody could learn it. It was a cute joke but, naturally, people who had problem getting the joke also had problem learning anything more complex than Java (or Basic, which was more actual at the time). They honestly believed that they cannot code not because of their learning disability but the conspiracy to make the unlearnable language. Over time, the original context has been lost and the joke became the "common knowledge", everyone knew C++ is just too damn complex so it's futile even to try to learn, even its creator does not know it etc etc. The actual C++, while, indeed more complex than Java, is nowhere close to the rumored complexity. Say, compared to Common Lisp with 40+ special forms and things like "loop" and CLOS, it's just too easy (not that I mean CL is "unlearnable" it's just more complex than C++). Somebody with a STEM degree could learn C++ better than many self-proclaimed "C++ masters" if just read a book and then looked over the standard. But very few people do that, the myth is just too strong. It's sad because nowadays it gets to the ridiculous point when people will imagine something about the language rules (something very far from the reality) and will refuse to write few lines of code to see the stuff just does not work how they imagined. The only thing worse than ignorance is false knowledge.