When properly applied any rule is always right. You just “have” to know how to apply it.
Dear Johnny, the rule is "i before e except after C, except foreign words, words in which the ei makes two sounds, proper nouns are out, or when sounded like A as in weigh, let me see, or when the i is part of the ci digraph making the /ch/ sound, lets not forget the conflicting spelling rule (in words ending with the consonany-y, change y to i , Johnny Johnny are you awake !!! Stupid boy.