Essay:Meta-Pareto principle

The meta-Pareto principle, a variation on the theme of the Pareto principle, states that:

At least 80% of people consider themselves to be among the best 20% of the population.

In other words, given any desirable trait, 80% of people will consider themselves to be in the top 20% of this trait. For example, 80% of people think they are among the 20% most intelligent, and the same can be said of attractiveness, importance, social aptitude, and competence. It is a consequence of the Dunning-Kruger effect.

This law was formulated in RationalWiki's saloon bar.