Pedantry and mastery are opposite attitudes toward rules. To apply a rule to the letter, rigidly, unquestioningly, in cases where it fits and in cases where it does not fit, is pedantry. … To apply a rule with natural ease, with judgment, noticing the cases where it fits, and without ever letting the words of the rule obscure the purpose of the action or the opportunities of the situation, is mastery.
George Pólya, How to Solve It
...and that’s why the rule doesn’t apply to the reference class of cases I just constructed to only contain my own, Officer.
At which point the officer will demonstrate in no uncertain terms who is the master in the current situation.