Breakage

I don't believe that you have to know rules to break them well. That's a myth. But I do believe the world bristles and bubbles with rules of thumb that you should listen to, and break freely when you want to and it hurts no one.

Knowing the rule clearly first is not a prerequisite. That's a scare tactic that teachers use to get you to listen to them (and you should).

Much has been done by people who didn't really know what they were doing, and who, as they have said afterwards, were just stupid enough not to realize that what they were doing was impossible.

You do not have to know a rule before breaking it excellently.

It can help. As long as you remember not to be a rules Nazi, you will benefit from knowing more of these rules of thumb offered because you're supposed to know.

There is, of course, the question of complacency. Yet breaking complacency isn't about refusing to learn. Don't refuse to learn. Learn rules, break rules, make rules, shake 'em up.