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