Maybe the past is a teacher, but people change, circumstances change, the civilization moves forward and develops, so we should not stay sticked in the past so much to learn from it, because in that case we do not follow the present moment... Still, we are vulnerable, as you say, and that won't change... So the best way is to take a little bit from the past and make it better in the present, regarding the circumstances...
I agree the part with the rules, in order to stay focused and follow your own path.