I have always been a rule follower and a strict one at that. I would take every rule literally and follow it to the letter with hardly any flexibility. But over time I have realized that what is more important is to understand the spirit of the law.

Laws and rules are written in precise terms with every possible clause attached because that is how you build a generic scalable system. And we should use these edicts – like a guidebook that points out the important landmarks in a city. But what helps us navigate the day-to-day is our own moral compass built on the foundations of strong values like empathy and honesty. Taking this approach puts the onus on us to explore the reasons behind a practice, question its relevance to current times and challenge the status quo.

Following the law to the letter is the easy way out of ethical dilemmas. Understanding the spirit behind it, that takes some serious soul-searching.