Science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon famously observed that critics focused only on the worst examples of his genre. His response became Sturgeon’s Law: “90% of everything is crap”. This applies to art, consumer goods, literature, and even the millions of neural connections our brains make daily.
Sturgeon’s Law is a “more restrictive version” of the Pareto Principle. It teaches us to be relentlessly selective with our time and energy. Since the vast majority of information is “low-quality” or insignificant, we shouldn’t waste energy obsessing over common flaws or “inessential” details. Instead, find the 10% of absolute “non-crap” and work your way out from there. By being “perpetually skeptical” of what you allow into your life, you protect your limited mental resources.