FWIW over the years I've heard variations of the quote from a number of people. Though I'm not versed in advanced mathematics or physics the idea makes a lot of

FWIW over the years I've heard variations of the quote from a number of people. Though I'm not versed in advanced mathematics or physics the idea makes a lot of sense to me. I say that because developing expertise in fields requiring mastery of highly abstract concepts (and skill in applying the concepts) works pretty much the same way. But then again, it's interesting how exposure to target subject matter improves "understanding things". An example is when I needed to learn what the confusing areas of shadow and light on a PET scan image were all about. Viewing such images repeatedly became sort of magic. After a while the images start to actually make sense, structures and processes come into focus and become identifiable. Eventually they're old friends, "yeah I know what's going there..." Here's my speculation: beyond a certain level of complexity, learning via linear, step-at-a-time algorithms no longer works because the number of items to keep "online" simultaneously exceeds what can be held in working memory. The need to "get used to it" implies ability to "page" sets of symbolic representations into and out of working memory. This is an experiential learning process coalescing as an intuition for the discipline.