The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule, the law of the vital few, or the principle of factor sparsity) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.
Is the Pareto principle good for science? Yes, if you are interested in prices, doctorates, honours, achievements, academy membership, AMEX gold card. No, if you are interested in the progress of science, separating wheat from chaff, common goods like educating students. Yes, if you do not have tenure. No, if you have achieved it.