I've found the multiple contradictory sayings ("don't force it", "where force doesn't work, more force will", "doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thin

I've found the multiple contradictory sayings ("don't force it", "where force doesn't work, more force will", "doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing" and its reverse) useful as a way of characterizing the problem space. ie in positions of uncertainty, figuring out which proverb applies is a great framework for approximation.