I’ve read a lot of Dr Seuss books over the years and McElligot’s Pool is one of my favourites, in part because of this passage, spoken by a boy after being told he’s wasting his time fishing:

“Hmmm …” answered Marco,
“It may be you’re right.
I’ve been here three hours
Without one single bite.
There might be no fish … 

“… But again,
Well, there might!” 

Cause you never can tell
What goes on down below!
 

“This pool might be bigger
Than you or I know!”

Testers, I give you McElligot’s Rule*: when you’re chasing a might on the basis of a never-can-tell, it’s worth putting your rod aside now and again to think about what you’re tying to achieve, how, why and for who.

* OK, heuristic, but we’re rhyming today.
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