Gibbs Rules: NCIS' Guide to Life From Our Fearless Leader

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NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, portrayed for over a decade by the incomparable Mark Harmon, lives life by a set of rules. Most of which be abides by.

Gibbs' rules may be fluid, ever-changing and incomplete (many of them have yet to be revealed), but fans of the CBS drama know they've been a staple since Season 1.

The "40s" are said to be especially important, while the list was believed to comprise about 50 rules, with a 51st added with major impact in the Season 7 finale.

However, a 69th rule was dropped out of nowhere in Season 9, and #62 was revealed in a throwaway line in the most recent hour of NCIS Season 11 ... so who knows.

There have been examples of Gibbs and his team breaking them (3, 6 and 12 come to mind), and there are two different rules for #1 and #3, anomalies attributed to Mike Franks.

Rules 1-3 for Gibbs and his late mentor are therefore distinct; Gibbs' #2 hasn't been revealed … we don't think. Other NCIS team members have revealed their own rules as well.

Which rules are your favorites? What do you think some of his yet-to-be-revealed pearls of wisdom might be? Did we miss any or get any of them wrong?

Scroll through TV Fanatic's Gibbs Rules slideshow above and and share your thoughts and comments. We'll make the additions and corrections as needed!

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.

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NCIS Quotes

Bishop: Seriously? How'd you get that?
Tony: Well, it's like Gorillas in the Midst. You'll get to understand his grunts.

Torres: When I break out the glass, maybe I can rip out the bars.
Bishop: With what? Your superhuman strength?