I just made the connection between your statement "A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked." and the common understanding among experienced developers that proficiency in software and the primary goal when designing and building a system is perpetually fighting complexity.

You design and write the cleanest, most simplistic & adequate solutions for problems as they arise and ruthlessly battle introducing complexity as features and scope grow.

Inevitably, after many years you will wind up with a system which by sheer size is complex. But only reason it works is because of the never-ending battle in the fight against complexity.