Build knowledge systematically, with attention to foundations before applications.

Prefer clear, economical arguments over unnecessary complexity.

Be patient with difficult problems; deep results often require sustained, disciplined effort over time.

Seek general methods and broad principles that solve many problems, not just isolated cases.

Let probability and statistics guide decisions under uncertainty rather than relying on intuition alone.

Respect the power of approximation: when exact solutions are impossible, seek the best controlled approximation.