Honor!

What is more important? Meeting the intention behind the rules/laws/rights for which they are set up or merely following them, being bounded?

There is a sense of honor in following the rules, isn't it? 

Withdrawing from personal gains, making sacrifices, following the path of adversary - does generate honour, not many do it!

Be it minute rules like following traffic signal, always reaching office on time, doing what the boss says, always being honest or to be at the line of duty and defending your country at the stake of your life. There is a sense of honor and pride that carries along. 

But what if the rules do not serve the intention or purpose behind setting them? Let's say some smarties twist the rules in a way that they seem right at their position, however the overall outcome or impact is a disaster for others. What would a wise man do in this situation?

One way is to use your wisdom to counter the smarties and find loopholes in their plan so that you can breakaway from their chains in a way that the rules are not broken. But what if one couldn't? The smarties win the battle as they are smarter. 

Rules cannot guarantee that the outcome meets expectation. 

That day in that court, Pandavs, Bhishm, Dronacharya and many others were less smart than Shakuni and the gang. But these were honorable people. Being less smart is not a crime! Valuing your honor more than avoiding a disaster in front of you is! Or what about Draupadi's honour? Defending her honour should had taken precedence to any rules or laws. 

An honourable person may not be smart but shouldn't be a fool to sink in their own honor.

What honor a policeman can have while following orders if he can't protect innocent lives?

What honour an entrepreneur can have if he/she can make money but can't create value for people?

What honor an employee can have following orders of the boss if he/she cannot contribute to the organisation?