Simple and complex are two ends of a spectrum. Simple things have few parts, the parts are organized in a homogeneous fashion, and the whole can be fairly easily grasped in one fell swoop. Complex things have many parts, the parts are organized heterogeneously, and it takes a concentrated effort to comprehend the whole. A musical scale is simple, a Bach fugue is complex. A color chart is simple, a Jackson Pollock painting is complex. The alphabet is simple, the Bible is complex.

At times, the simplicity or complexity of an item can be deceptive. We sit down to a steaming meal of clams, lobster tails, crab legs, chicken, and vegetables. ‘Delicious, but obviously complicated to make,’ we comment to our host. ‘Not at all complicated,’ says he. ‘Your simply steam all of the ingredients in a large pot for an hour. The meal cooks itself.’ On the other hand, the first course was quenelle de brochette – egg-shaped fish mousses, looking like tiny homogeneous puddings.