You need a spirit of sound judgment, not borrowed answers

Rules, examples, and advice offer valuable guidance. But a moment comes when a situation does not coincide exactly with any learned answer: goods in tension appear, new data emerge, and concrete people are involved. Having sound judgment means understanding principles, knowing reality, and deciding with responsibility. It includes formation, delicacy of conscience, sound counsel, and an educated will. It is neither following your first impulse nor feeling superior to every rule. A borrowed answer can get you out of a tight spot; formed judgment allows you to explain why you choose and to rectify if needed. The goal of moral education is not to produce people who depend on instructions, but people capable of recognizing and serving the good when no one dictates the exact step to them.