In the late 1800s, Vilfredo Pareto observed that 80 percent of the land in Italy was owned by 20 percent of the population. While gardening, he later observed that 20 percent of the peapods in his garden yielded 80 percent of the peas that were harvested.

This nice little observation has been hijacked over the years by endless business management types to explain ways of parting people with their money and generally justifying all kinds of BS.

It does, however, remain a nice little observation. Well done Vilfredo Pareto.