We must separate the wheat from the chaff to find the best ideas.
separate the wheat from the chaff
idiomTo select only that which is of value.
Origin
disputed originThe figurative sense is by extension from the literal sense, which is threshing. Because threshing has been an important activity for humans for thousands of years, it is well represented both in folk wisdom and (relatedly) in the Bible; for example, Matthew 3:12.
The manager reviewed hundreds of job applications to separate the wheat from the chaff before scheduling any interviews.
In an era of endless digital information, the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff has become an essential skill for any serious researcher.