The Physicist’s Bill of Rights

The Physicist’s Bill of Rights
shamelessly stolen from http://www.everything2.org/index.pl?node_id=640948

We hold these postulates to be intuitively obvious, that all physicists are
born equal, to a first approximation, and are endowed by their creator with
certain discrete privileges, among them a mean rest life, n degrees of
freedom, and the following rights which are invariant under all linear
transformations:

1. To approximate all problems to ideal cases
2. To use order of magnitude calculations whenever deemed necessary(i.e.
   whenever one can get way with it)
3. To use the rigorous method of “squiting” for solving problems more
   complex than the addition of positive real integers.
4. To dismiss all functions which diverge as “nasty” and “unphysical”.
5. To invoke the uncertainty principle when confronted by confused
   mathmaticians, chemists,engineers,psychologists,dramatists, and other lower
   scientists.
6. When pressed by non-physicists for an explanation of (4) to mumble in
   a sneering tone of voice something about physically naive mathematicians.
7. To equate the two sides of an equation which are dimensionally
   incosistent, with a suitable comment to the effect of, “Well, we are
   interested in the order of magnitude anyway”.
8. To the extensive use of “bastard notations” where conventional
   mathematics will not work.
9. To invent fictitious forces to delude the general public.
10. To justify shaky reasoning on the basis that it gives the right
    answer.
11. To cleverly choose convenient initial conditions, using the principle
    of general triviality
12. To use plausible arguments in place of proofs, and thenceforth refer
    to these argumenents as proofs.
13. To take on faith any principle which seems right but cannot be proved
    (Author Unknown)