The law of small numbers misleads by making us draw conclusions from insufficient data. Local patterns can be predictive, but globally, predictions equal actual probabilities only with adequate sample sizes. Mind the sample size of your decision set—it determines what you can validly conclude.

Things condemned for looking ugly often contain deeper functional truth than aesthetically pleasing but flawed alternatives. Local knowledge appears messy but embodies practical wisdom that formal systems miss. Appreciating that functionally superior solutions may appear aesthetically displeasing prevents mistaking surface order for underlying quality.