Is it okay to break rules?

Totally depends.

Jaywalking, usually fine.

Killing someone, usually not.

I'm a firm believer in natural consequences. I explained it to my girls this way -- If you break my rules you'll deal with me; if you break the school's rules you'll deal with the schools; if you break the law you'll deal with the courts. If you know the rules and know the consequences of breaking them then make your own decisions - just be prepared to face the consequences.

I try to live my life by a set of principles. If the rules are in line with my principles, then I follow them. When there are rules that contradict my principles I break them. Anything in between I weigh the importance of the rule and the benefit of breaking it.

Rules, in and of themselves, aren't very important.

Sure, all rules can be broken. Other things being equal, it's usually a bad thing. But, first, "usually" is not "always". Some rules are stupid and shouldn't have been there in the first place. (Consider the rule that said: "Rosa Parks, this is a segregated bus, and you can't sit on this seat.") And second, other things need not be equal. "Don't lie" is usually a good rule, but sometimes lying is the lesser evil than the alternative. (Like when somebody asks you: "Do these pants make me look fat?")

If someone said a pair of pants made me look fat it would be a lie. The truth is that I look fat without pants.

Sometimes people have to lie so others aren't hurt.

Most rules are just incongruous admixtures of statements tagged with residual rewards and punishments in hopes to condition and gentrify societies. I remember being told when I was very young that most rules were in place to keep us safe. As I got older, I learned that the rules that don't keep us safe are probably the ones you can afford to bend a little.

Exactly.

I just hope some people on this site understand.

Understand what?

And why are you asking this question?

It may be time for "the talk".

The reason that I broke some rules. I never meant any harm.

I believe in 1 rule and 1 rule only. Do to others as you would want them to do to you. If that was the only rule that was never broken, then nobody would be guilty.