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The '''Immortal Words''' were a set of oaths sworn by the [[Knights Radiant]] in order to gain their [[Surgebinding]] abilities. There were five sets of '''Ideals''' for each order, with the first being the same among all orders, and the [[Order of Lightweavers]] being the exception as they swore no oaths past the first one.{{book ref|sa2|89}} While the general idea behind every Ideal is the same between members of a certain order, the exact wording can change based on the individual journey of each Radiant. The Stormfather has a measure of control over when individuals in at least some orders are able to progress in their oaths.{{book ref|sa3|121}}
== Purpose ==
Although swearing the Fifth Ideal allows a Radiant to fully master their powers, it is not necessary to do so in order to be considered a Knight Radiant or to access their primary powers. In fact, it is such a difficult process that the Order of the Skybreakers has not had someone swear the Fifth Ideal for centuries.{{book ref|Oathbringer|90}}
==Underlying concept==
{{theory}}
All Ideals seem to have in common that they reflect in some way on the respective person's character, self-awareness and motivations, their soul, so to speak, and reinforce that person's bond with their spren in accordance to that reflection. For instance, Windrunners are people who seek to protect others from harm and evil and advance their Ideals when they realize more and more, what that drive to protect entails and embrace those precepts. Therefore, Kaladin is unable to speak the Fourth Ideal, as he is not yet able to actually live up to the demands of that stage. Furthermore, the actual wording used when swearing an Ideal seems to matter significantly less than the mindset of the person and their accomplishments in their journey to self-awareness. Finally, it is impossible to swear an Ideal prematurely, as the [[Stormfather]] "refuses" to acknowledge [[Lopen]]'s oath when he swears it at first, presumably during his training. However, after the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], when Lopen speaks to an injured soldier who had lost his arm in the fighting, he repeats them while explaining the concept of the oaths to the soldier. At this moment, he is not earnestly expecting his words to hold any meaning, as he uses the phrase "journey before pancakes" in the First Ideal, and repeats the Second Ideal only while mentioning to the soldier how hard it is to say those words and mean them. Nevertheless, the Stormfather accepts his words, as Lopen appears to have actually achieved the required personality this time around. All of this points to the possibility that all Ideals are Truths spoken by a Knight Radiant about their inner self, speaking about their respective goals and ideals (protecting others, seeking order and justice, helping and caring for the weak, etc.). Thus, the Lightweavers would not be different from the other orders in that they require Truth ''instead'' of an Ideal, but in that they are much more liberal and varied with respect to what Truths, and therefore, what character, are needed in order to advance.
== Trivia ==
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