--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm beginning to wonder,\" said Kent…" description: "\"“I'm beginning to wonder,\" said Kent, sitting down now on an overturned wooden tub. \"Who do I serve? Why am I here?\" You are here, because, in the expa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/christopher-moore-353_ethics_i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sittin_790958.png" --- # I'm beginning to wonder," said Kent, sitting down now on… ![“I'm beginning to wonder," said Kent, sitting down now on an overturned wooden tub. "Who do I serve? Why am I here?" You are here, because, in the expanding ethical ambiguity of our situation, you are steadfast in your righteousness. It is to you, our banished friend, that we all turn—a light amid…” quote by Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/christopher-moore-353_ethics_i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sittin_790958.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/christopher-moore-353_ethics_i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sittin_790958.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/christopher-moore-353_ethics_i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sittin_790958.png) > ““I'm beginning to wonder," said Kent, sitting down now on an overturned wooden tub. "Who do I serve? Why am I here?" You are here, because, in the expanding ethical ambiguity of our situation, you are steadfast in your righteousness. It is to you, our banished friend, that we all turn—a light amid the dark dealings of family and politics. You are the moral backbone on which the rest of us hang our bloody bits. Without you we are merely wiggly masses of desire writhing in our own devious bile." Really?" asked the old knight. Aye," said I. I'm not sure I want to keep company with you lot, then.”” [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator questions his purpose and moral role amid chaotic family and political dynamics, highlighting the burden of being a moral anchor. **In simple terms:** A person wonders why they are needed as a moral guide in a messy world. Key Takeaway Recognize and uphold your ethical responsibility. Themes purpose morality burden family politics Mood reflective serious determined Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - political negotiations - family disputes - ethical dilemmas - leadership roles - personal crises Key Concepts existentialism ethical duty identity resilience leadership Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities does being a moral guide entail? - How can you sustain integrity without losing self? A Different Perspective The moral anchor may become overwhelmed or isolated, risking burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Banished Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banished-friend-6074220/) [Ethical Ambiguity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethical-ambiguity-6074218/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kent/) [Moral Backbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-backbone-2943543/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Politics Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-moral-6074219/) [Righteousness Banished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness-banished-6074221/) ## Related quotes > [“The cycle of fear and falsehood can be broken only when we develop a moral backbone. You no longer view your life from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-tayem-tangumonkem/the-cycle-of-fear-and-falsehood-can-be-broken-only-when-we-develop-a/) [Eric Tayem Tangumonkem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-tayem-tangumonkem/) > [The moral backbone of literature is about that whole question of memory. To my mind it seems clear that those who have no memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-g-sebald/the-moral-backbone-of-literature-is-about-that-whole-question-of/) [W. G. Sebald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-g-sebald/) > [I first started going to Kent from the East End, where I was brought up, when I was a very small boy, going with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-essex/i-first-started-going-to-kent-from-the-east-end-where-i-was-brought/) [David Essex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-essex/) > [My parents got me a $25 Kent steel-string acoustic guitar when I was around 12. The following Christmas, my parents bought me a Conora…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/my-parents-got-me-a-25-kent-steel-string-acoustic-guitar-when-i-was/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [Dwellers by the sea cannot fail to be impressed by the sight of its ceaseless ebb and flow, and are apt, on the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-frazer/dwellers-by-the-sea-cannot-fail-to-be-impressed-by-the-sight-of-its/) [James G. Frazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-frazer/) > [My favorite record was the one I produced with Clark Kent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-dash/my-favorite-record-was-the-one-i-produced-with-clark-kent/) [Damon Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-dash/) > [I'm a 10th-generation Texan. My ancestor - Andrew Kent - fought at the Alamo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-collins/i-m-a-10th-generation-texan-my-ancestor-andrew-kent-fought-at-the/) [Jessica Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-collins/) > [The ‘I’ character in journalism is almost pure invention. Unlike the ‘I’ of autobiography, who is meant to be seen as a representation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-i-character-in-journalism-is-almost-pure-invention-unlike-the-i/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [I dreamed of having a Gibson. I had a cheap Kent - you know, a Japanese guitar - and then a Kanora, a Japanese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/i-dreamed-of-having-a-gibson-i-had-a-cheap-kent-you-know-a-japanese/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [“And then, just at that moment, when I'm no longer sure if I'm dreaming or awake or walking some valley in between where everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/and-then-just-at-that-moment-when-i-m-no-longer-sure-if-i-m-dreaming/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Perhaps the most prevailing expectation of men is our Superman expectation: the fear we are merely Clark Kents who won't be accepted unless we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/perhaps-the-most-prevailing-expectation-of-men-is-our-superman/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Kent. Where's the king? Gent. Contending with the fretful elements; Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, Or swell the curled waters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/kent-where-s-the-king-gent-contending-with-the-fretful-elements-bids/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Big Ben just kept building up. It ended up coming off the field. It kept taking over. Superman kept taking over Clark Kent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-roethlisberger/big-ben-just-kept-building-up-it-ended-up-coming-off-the-field-it/) [Ben Roethlisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-roethlisberger/) > [When my sixth grade teacher opened the class with subtle praise for the guardsmen shooting four people to death at Kent State, I'd given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jello-biafra/when-my-sixth-grade-teacher-opened-the-class-with-subtle-praise-for/) [Jello Biafra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jello-biafra/) > [Some prescient American collectors, including Vicki and Kent Logan and Mera and Donald Rubell, began collecting Chinese art before 2000 with a genuine passion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-glimcher/some-prescient-american-collectors-including-vicki-and-kent-logan-and/) [Arne Glimcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-glimcher/) ## More by Christopher Moore > [“Love them all," said Renoir. "That is the secret, young man. Love them all." The painter let go of his arm and shrugged. "Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/love-them-all-said-renoir-that-is-the-secret-young-man-love-them-all/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“I tried cutting myself to express my heartbreak over Tommy (Lord Flood) rejecting me, but OMFG it hurts like flaming fuck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-tried-cutting-myself-to-express-my-heartbreak-over-tommy-lord-flood/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [Canada is a myth people made up to entertain children, like the Tooth Fairy. There’s no such place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/canada-is-a-myth-people-made-up-to-entertain-children-like-the-tooth/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [Sarcasm will make your tits fall off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/sarcasm-will-make-your-tits-fall-off/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“I hope you are not here to ask me to do my bawdy business- the monkey has a nosebleed and the circus, sir, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-hope-you-are-not-here-to-ask-me-to-do-my-bawdy-business-the-monkey/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [The prospect of change is a many-fanged beast, my dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/the-prospect-of-change-is-a-many-fanged-beast-my-dear/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“The night was crisp and the stars shone with a cold blue light like loneliness or infinity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/the-night-was-crisp-and-the-stars-shone-with-a-cold-blue-light-like/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [Children see magic because they look for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/children-see-magic-because-they-look-for-it/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“Abby Von Normal - And I'm like, "Don't change the subject, Kung Pao, what I want to know is if you're ready to spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/abby-von-normal-and-i-m-like-don-t-change-the-subject-kung-pao-what-i/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“You can't just go around blurting out the truth like a prophet with Tourette's syndrome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/you-can-t-just-go-around-blurting-out-the-truth-like-a-prophet-with/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [How could you deal with a creature as devious as woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/how-could-you-deal-with-a-creature-as-devious-as-woman/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“…turning your ankle hurts like hell, even if you're a superhero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/turning-your-ankle-hurts-like-hell-even-if-you-re-a-superhero/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [Lonliness evaporated off of them like the steam off dry ice, and by morning it was just a cloud on the ceiling of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/lonliness-evaporated-off-of-them-like-the-steam-off-dry-ice-and-by/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“Give us a call or you know, flash a searchlight in the sky with your logo on it, because we monitor everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/give-us-a-call-or-you-know-flash-a-searchlight-in-the-sky-with-your/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“it wasn't so much like the hands of time had stood still here, more like they'd been thrown in the air in exasperation, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/it-wasn-t-so-much-like-the-hands-of-time-had-stood-still-here-more/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) [Explore all 591 Christopher Moore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) ## More Ethics quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [He who mistrusts most should be trusted least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theognis-of-megara/he-who-mistrusts-most-should-be-trusted-least/) [Theognis of Megara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theognis-of-megara/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/) [Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ethics is not definable, is not implementable, because it is not conscious; it involves not only our thinking, but also our feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valdemar-w-setzer/ethics-is-not-definable-is-not-implementable-because-it-is-not/) [Valdemar W Setzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valdemar-w-setzer/) > [Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I'm beginning to wonder,\" said Kent, sitting down now on an overturned wooden tub. \"Who do I serve? Why am I here?\" You are here, because, in the expanding ethical ambiguity of our situation, you are steadfast in your righteousness. It is to you, our banished friend, that we all turn—a light amid the dark dealings of family and politics. You are the moral backbone on which the rest of us hang our bloody bits. Without you we are merely wiggly masses of desire writhing in our own devious bile.\" Really?\" asked the old knight. Aye,\" said I. I'm not sure I want to keep company with you lot, then.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Moore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sitting-down-now-on-an-overturned/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ethics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sitting-down-now-on-an-overturned/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/christopher-moore-353_ethics_i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sittin_790958.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/christopher-moore-353_ethics_i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sittin_790958.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/christopher-moore-353_ethics_i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sittin_790958.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm beginning to wonder,\" said Kent, sitting down now on an overturned wooden tub. \"Who do I serve? Why am I…” — Christopher Moore", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Christopher Moore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I'm beginning to wonder,\" said Kent,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sitting-down-now-on-an-overturned/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/i-m-beginning-to-wonder-said-kent-sitting-down-now-on-an-overturned/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```