(Jeremy) Bernstein’s First Law
Jeremy Bernstein
All tests measure something.
(Sir Francis) Darwin’s Law
Francis Darwin
In science, the credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not to the man to whom the idea occurs.
Asimov’s Three Rules of Robotics
Isaac Asimov
1. A robot may not injure a human being or through inaction allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Bohr’s Law
Niels Bohr
The crazier the theory, the more likely it is to be correct.
Bouchier’s Columbus Principle
David Bouchier
Any new activity will cause more trouble than you can possibly imagine.
Burton’s Rule
Robert Burton
No rule is so general which admits not some exception.
Cervantes’s Law of Statistics
Miguel de Cervantes
By a small sample, we may judge of the whole piece.
Chisholm’s Laws of Human Interaction
Francis P. Chisholm
1. If anything can go wrong, it will.
2. When things are going well, something will go wrong.
3. Purposes as understood by the purposer will be judged otherwise by others.
Clarke’s Laws
Arthur C. Clarke
1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Data’s Law
Anon
All things which can occur do occur.
