Code Question - MCA vs MOCP

I fully acknowledge this is probably a dumb question, but I'm asking it anyway. This is definitely something I've had answered for me at one point, but my brain is escaping me right now (and google is failing me).

For a single motor being connected to a panel, we generally size wire to MCA which is 125% your full load amps for the motor. For circuit breakers, generally we size maximum breaker size to MOCP to 250% the full load amps of the motor (depending on the application based on the table in chapter 430). I understand this is a maximum value and technically you can use a lower value.

But why can I size a breaker much higher than the rating of my wire? I know the argument for nuisance tripping, but I've also heard old hats say "your breaker protects the wire." If I use the maximum value to size my breaker, doesn't this generally go against this rule?

Ignoring derating here, let's say I have a simple 10HP 480V motor. NEC says the FLA is at 14A. That puts my wire/MCA at 21A, and my maximum breaker is 35A. Wouldn't this imply my breaker is not protecting my wire using these values? I'm having a case of following guidelines for long enough, I'm forgetting the "why" part. Please someone help my brain fart here lol.