A different take on the Windrunner’s Fourth Ideal

[The Wanderer]

I know, I know. These has been endless theories on what this ideal will be, yet almost all of them are basically the same.

however, I think people have been thinking along the wrong lines. Taking both Kaladin and the gemstone windrunner into account, I think there is a different train of thought about this ideal. What everyone thinks it is talking about understanding that one person cannot save everyone; and admittedly this idea did play into my thoughts as well.

i think that it is not the idea of being unable to save people that inspires this ideal, but instead the fear of failing to help one group of people while protecting another. As such, my idea for the Fourth Ideal is as follows:

”I will do what is right, even if I am afraid of the outcome”

 

[StanLemon]

Interesting. To me though that sounds more like a capstone, so 5th Ideal territory 

[Halyo_Alex he/him]

2 hours ago, StanLemon said:

Interesting. To me though that sounds more like a capstone, so 5th Ideal territory 

Agreed. I think that is the 5th ideal, and what I think the 4th ideal is something like "I will protect when it is right, until they can protect themselves," effectively an admission that people can be trusted to take care of themselves in the right conditions.

Or maybe that would be a better 5th ideal compared to Wanderer's theoretical 4th.

[Honorless he/him]

I am rather partial to the popular theory on this one. The thing that completely swung me over was this quote from the Urithiru gem archive during a reread:

Quote

"My spren claims that recording this will be good for me, so here I go. Everyone says I will swear the Fourth Ideal soon, and in so doing, earn my armor. I simply don't think that I can. Am I not supposed to want to help people?"

 

[+Oltux72 he/him]

14 hours ago, The Wanderer said:

”I will do what is right, even if I am afraid of the outcome”

That sounds like something a Dustbringer would say. Or maybe an Elsecaller or Willshaper.

[Tglassy]

I've always thought it was something along the lines of "I will allow those who can to protect themselves," as a compliment to the second "I will protect those who cannot protect themselves."  He was trying to protect Dalinar, who not only didn't need protection, but shouldn't have been protected.  Dalinar had to go through that to "level up", so to speak.  It's like playing Halo where the guy who's been playing for ten years keeps kill steeling because he's "Helping" his buddy, who's new, but then the buddy doesn't get the experience because his friend does all the work.  

[StevLaJer he/him]

On 11/1/2020 at 4:47 PM, The Wanderer said:

”I will do what is right, even if I am afraid of the outcome”

That sounds cool AF, but I think it would be more fitting for the 5th Ideal 

[jamesbondsmith He/him]

My theory is similar to this. Something along the lines of 'I will protect those I can/should, even at the expense of others'. I think the last part is the key.

We've seen him kill enemies, yes, but from memory (I haven't read Oathbringer since it came out and I'm not all that far into my re-read) it wasn't until pretty late that he sees Parshendi as people to be protected. He'll also have to make the decision to wilfully abandon certain people in order to save others. Bonus drama points if everyone involved is someone he personally wants to protect.

[+Harrycrapper]

On 1/12/2020 at 5:52 AM, Oltux72 said:

That sounds like something a Dustbringer would say. Or maybe an Elsecaller or Willshaper.

It's from a sapphire, the different gems indicated which order of Radiant left the message. So that is most definitely from a Windrunner as that order is aligned with sapphires.