I think rules should be the way and not the goal.

It exist a proverb in Romanian language: " E mai benefic aplicarea legii conform spiritul legii decat conform literei legii"

This means (hopefulley I will traduce correctly) that is more better to apply the rules based on "spirit" of rules (taking in consideration the environment, circumstances, etc), than to apply "the letter of rules" (striclty the rules as written).