"The solutions all are simple - after you have arrived at them. But they're simple only when you know already what they are"

Understanding often feels effortless in hindsight, as if the answers were always within reach. Yet, the journey to those answers is complex and fraught with uncertainty. Pirsig's observation centers on the paradox that solutions seem obvious only after they've been discovered. The perplexing challenge before us transforms, retroactively, into a solvable riddle. With knowledge in hand, the layers of confusion dissolve, but that clarity is only possible because of the prior effort and struggle.

This phenomenon is deeply rooted in both cognitive and emotional processes. Human brains recognize patterns and find coherence; once a pattern is uncovered, retroactive clarity emerges, making previous confusion seem puzzling. When looking back, people tend to underestimate the difficulty involved in finding solutions, falling prey to what psychologists know as "hindsight bias". The problem, once solved, loses its original complexity. The risk here is undervaluing the problem-solving process, and failing to appreciate the journey undertaken to reach that apparently “simple” solution.

Pirsig’s observation applies to diverse fields, science, engineering, philosophy, even everyday life decisions. An elegant mathematical proof, once explained, looks straightforward, yet the path to its discovery could have been riddled with false starts. When observing a finished work of art or a well-executed plan, observers often miss the iterative process and uncertainty inherent before the outcome.

There’s also a humbling message. Discovering simplicity is itself an act of profound intelligence and labor, not to be confused with “obviousness.” Recognizing solutions as “simple” only after struggling for clarity teaches humility, patience, and respect for both our own journeys of learning and those of others. The real value of a solution lies not just in its final form, but in the persistence, curiosity, and creativity invested into making the complex appear simple.