Our religion is a matter of inches, and the measurements of the chachomim are exact. 40 saah minus a thimble is not a mikva. One inch out of the techum you may not return (acc. to the chachmim). If they say a bird hops 50 amos, it does not even stick a toe past that. If you don’t believe this, you have no right to be in a beis medresh and should be kicked out!
This is why generalities are not halacha (i.e. “Bright Clothing”), only specifics (Red).
Then there are chumros and mussar, which deal with generalities.