Moral distinctions are _both_ the product and source of collective struggles. It's not an either/or question.
The same goes for theory and practice. Theory does not precede practice or vice versa. They interact with each other. They are simultaneous.
Or thought and action. ============================= Most everyone will acknowledge it's not an either/or question - in the abstract. This seems to apply to all such "it's both" discussions, eg. nature versus nurture.
But people inevitably lean one way or the other, and controversies erupt when their biases are expressed in relation to specific issues and deepen as they entrench themselves in their positions.
Reminders such as yours are necessary to restore some balance.