--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sorting out what's good and bad is the…" description: "\"“Sorting out what's good and bad is the province of ethics. It is also what keeps priests, pundits, and parents busy. Unfortunately, what keeps childre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-cathcart-41981_bad_sorting-out-what-s-good-and-bad-is-the-p_2625918.jpg" --- # Sorting out what's good and bad is the province of ethics… ![“Sorting out what's good and bad is the province of ethics. It is also what keeps priests, pundits, and parents busy. Unfortunately, what keeps children and philosophers busy is asking the priests, pundits and parents, "Why?” quote by Thomas Cathcart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-cathcart-41981_bad_sorting-out-what-s-good-and-bad-is-the-p_2625918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-cathcart-41981_bad_sorting-out-what-s-good-and-bad-is-the-p_2625918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b62/thomas-cathcart-41981_bad_sorting-out-what-s-good-and-bad-is-the-p_2625918.jpg) > ““Sorting out what's good and bad is the province of ethics. It is also what keeps priests, pundits, and parents busy. Unfortunately, what keeps children and philosophers busy is asking the priests, pundits and parents, "Why?”” [Thomas Cathcart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cathcart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ethics distinguishes good from bad, but it also occupies authority figures; children and philosophers challenge them by asking “why.” **In simple terms:** Ethics defines morality, yet questioning it is natural. Key Takeaway Question assumptions and explore deeper reasons. Themes ethics authority questioning philosophy Mood thoughtful inquisitive critical Type philosophical analytical reflective When to use this quote - education - parenting - religion - public discourse - philosophical debate Key Concepts moral reasoning critical thinking social roles Questions to Reflect On - Why do we accept moral rules without scrutiny? - How can we balance respect and inquiry? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on authority can stifle independent moral development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-philosophers-2148862/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Ethics Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics-keeps-2148860/) [Explanations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanations/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good and bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-bad/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinions/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Philosophers Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers-busy-2148861/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Province Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/province-ethics-2148859/) [Punditry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punditry-151392/) [Reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasons/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [The hunter who accepts the sporting code of ethics keeps his commandments in the greatest solitude, with no witness or audience other than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/the-hunter-who-accepts-the-sporting-code-of-ethics-keeps-his/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [“Political pundits are under professional obligation to regard the obvious as being too obvious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/political-pundits-are-under-professional-obligation-to-regard-the/) [P. 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