knowing the rules

one of the greatest lessons i've ever learned came from my high-school phylosophy teacher - who happened to be the best teacher i've ever had. he taught me the importance of knowing the rules of every game, for only a deep knowledge of those rules allows one to find is fundamental flaws (and since human beings are flawed by nature, everything created by them is flawed as well) and use them for one's own benefit. in the end, there's no need to break the rules, as one can play by them and yet use them to one's gain.

that's the name of the game right now.