--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You've got to know the rules to break…" description: "\"You've got to know the rules to break them. That's what I'm here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.\" — Alexander McQueen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/alexander-mcqueen-3419_break_you-ve-got-to-know-the-rules-to-break-th_1201001.jpg" --- # You've got to know the rules to break them. That's what… ![“You've got to know the rules to break them. That's what I'm here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.” quote by Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/alexander-mcqueen-3419_break_you-ve-got-to-know-the-rules-to-break-th_1201001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/alexander-mcqueen-3419_break_you-ve-got-to-know-the-rules-to-break-th_1201001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/alexander-mcqueen-3419_break_you-ve-got-to-know-the-rules-to-break-th_1201001.jpg) > “You've got to know the rules to break them. That's what I'm here for, to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.” [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding rules lets you creatively subvert them while preserving core values. **In simple terms:** Know rules to break them wisely. Key Takeaway Use knowledge to innovate responsibly. Themes creativity tradition rebellion Mood defiant inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - fashion design - product development - branding - social movements Key Concepts cultural critique design theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance tradition with innovation? - When is it okay to discard a rule? A Different Perspective Breaking rules can alienate audiences if core values are lost. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [You've got to know the rules to break them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/you-ve-got-to-know-the-rules-to-break-them/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/know-the-rules-well-so-you-can-break-them-effectively/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Question everything. Don't try to emulate someone else's path. Look at what you have, the tools you have, the place you're in; know the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-stevenson/question-everything-don-t-try-to-emulate-someone-else-s-path-look-at/) [Noelle Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-stevenson/) > [Gotta know the rules to break the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-barlog/gotta-know-the-rules-to-break-the-rules/) [Cory Barlog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-barlog/) > [“There are rules to everything, even if nobody made them up, even if nobody calls it a game. And if you want things to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/there-are-rules-to-everything-even-if-nobody-made-them-up-even-if/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [“one must first know the rules to break them,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-agus/one-must-first-know-the-rules-to-break-them/) [David B. Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-agus/) > [“Learn the rules before you break them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-taylor-goldsberry/learn-the-rules-before-you-break-them/) Steven Taylor Goldsberry > [“Sometimes, you must play by the rules. If only so one can break them more effectively.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/sometimes-you-must-play-by-the-rules-if-only-so-one-can-break-them/) [Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/) > [“Rules will break you as often as you break them. But I guess that’s okay. Maybe I’m done with rules.For now, anyway. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-c-anderson/rules-will-break-you-as-often-as-you-break-them-but-i-guess-that-s/) [Natalie C. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-c-anderson/) > [You are remembered by the rules you break!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-remembered-by-the-rules-you-break/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are no rules, but you break them at your peril.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-guber/there-are-no-rules-but-you-break-them-at-your-peril/) [Peter Guber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-guber/) > [“...what about this rule about not meddling?’ said Magrat. ‘Ah,’ said Nanny. She took the girl’s arm. ‘The thing is,’ she explained, ‘as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/what-about-this-rule-about-not-meddling-said-magrat-ah-said-nanny-she/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-are-certain-things-that-we-can-deal-with-by-following-the-rules/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [And I'm the first one to tell people to break the rules. But you can only break the rules once you know what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/and-i-m-the-first-one-to-tell-people-to-break-the-rules-but-you-can/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [You are born and then you die, but in between you can do anything you want. It's society that creates rules for us, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zola-jesus/you-are-born-and-then-you-die-but-in-between-you-can-do-anything-you/) [Zola Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zola-jesus/) ## More by Alexander McQueen > [Fame should be left to the film stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/fame-should-be-left-to-the-film-stars/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I want people to be afraid of the women I dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-want-people-to-be-afraid-of-the-women-i-dress/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I like the concept of dressing people. I used to not care whether people bought the clothes or not, but I kind of like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-like-the-concept-of-dressing-people-i-used-to-not-care-whether/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [You can get insular with fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/you-can-get-insular-with-fashion/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [If you ask any lady they want to be taller, they want to be slimmer, you know, and they want a waist. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/if-you-ask-any-lady-they-want-to-be-taller-they-want-to-be-slimmer/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I'm mad in the front of my mind, but business-minded in the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-m-mad-in-the-front-of-my-mind-but-business-minded-in-the-back/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [It's the ugly things I notice more, because other people tend to ignore the ugly things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/it-s-the-ugly-things-i-notice-more-because-other-people-tend-to/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I am married to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-am-married-to-work/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [My relationships with producers or photographers - these are relationships that took years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/my-relationships-with-producers-or-photographers-these-are/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I don’t want to do a cocktail party. I’d rather people left my shows and vomited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-don-t-want-to-do-a-cocktail-party-i-d-rather-people-left-my-shows/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I am a melancholy type of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-am-a-melancholy-type-of-person/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I just want to be a wallflower. Nondescript. Just not anything. I don't want to see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-just-want-to-be-a-wallflower-nondescript-just-not-anything-i-don-t/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [For me, what I do is an artistic expression which is channeled through me. Fashion is just the medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/for-me-what-i-do-is-an-artistic-expression-which-is-channeled-through/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I'm interested in designing for posterity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-m-interested-in-designing-for-posterity/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) > [I come from a different era and I design clothes for our era. I think of people I want to dress when I design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mcqueen/i-come-from-a-different-era-and-i-design-clothes-for-our-era-i-think/) [Alexander McQueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) [Explore all 131 Alexander McQueen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mcqueen/) ## More Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. 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I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“A hole ain’t nothing either, but you can still break your neck in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-donati/a-hole-ain-t-nothing-either-but-you-can-still-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Sara Donati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-donati/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) Peter Dunne > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. 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