Editing The Way of Kings (in-world)

|related=[[Silver Kingdoms]], [[Nohadon]]

|universe=[[Cosmere]]

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{{for|The Way of Kings|the book by Brandon Sanderson|pre=This is for the in-universe text by [[Nohadon]]}}

'''''The Way of Kings''''' is a book of parables and stories written by king [[Nohadon]] on [[Roshar]]. Using [[Alethi]] [[glyph]]s, the title of the book is written with symbols for "pathway" and "king."{{book ref|sa3|111}}

It was read by [[Gavilar Kholin]] in the years prior to his death. [[Dalinar Kholin]] began listening to it after his brother's funeral.

== Summary ==

The book is written as a narrative of the life of [[Nohadon]], an ancient king, as he acts as a ruler should, with honor and dignity. In particular, it focuses on a journey he undertakes between the cities of [[Abamabar]] and [[Urithiru]], with his decision to go serving as the framing device for the entire piece. Rather than taking an [[Oathgate]], as his family does, he instead travels alone and on foot, encountering a number of thought-provoking scenarios.

The book is composed of an introduction, where the narrator makes the decision to set out, forty parables concerning different aspects of kingship, and a postscript where he summarizes his experiences. Each known parable presents a situation or a problem that the narrator comes across, then a solution or strike of understanding and, finally, philosophical musings on how the situation relates to the duties of a king. In each story, the narrator always strives to lead by example, despite the objections of those close to him. In this manner, he gains the respect and loyalty of his followers.

== Historicity ==

{{quote

|I've grown fond of [metaphors]. You might say I wrote an entire book about them.

|[[Nohadon]] on his own work{{book ref|sa3|103}}

}}

The book was written by [[Nohadon]], an ancient king who lived and reigned after one of the [[Desolation]]s. As is revealed by Dalinar's visions, he wrote the book after he had already risen to power. Thus, while it does exemplify the virtues of a ruler, it is meant to act as an allegory rather than a method by which to inspire others.{{book ref|sa1|60}}

It's uncertain how many of the events the book describes are real, and how many are purely metaphorical. In another vision, Nohadon asserts that he did make the journey that forms the basis for the stories; however, the factuality of the individual parables is disputable.{{book ref|sa3|103}} In addition, it's possible that some details have been lost or altered over the ages.{{wob ref|7930}}

== Influence ==

At around five millennia old, ''The Way of Kings'' is one of the oldest known texts to have survived to the present day.{{wob ref|7930}} Unlike most other literature and documents from that era, which were preserved only in [[Dawnchant]] and thus, until recently, impossible to read, ''The Way of Kings'' was continuously translated, ensuring its survival in the public consciousness.{{book ref|sa3|i|2}} A major force behind this were the [[Vanrial]], an order of artists dedicated to preserving ancient texts and songs.{{book ref|sa1|45}}

Though [[Surgebinding]] predates [[Nohadon]], the ancient [[Knights Radiant]] were heavily influenced by ''The Way of Kings''. It's suggested that their [[Immortal Words|Ideals]] were based off the book.{{book ref|sa1|52}} In particular, it appears as though the [[Order of Bondsmiths]] owns much to its teachings, as the very first lines suggest their Third Ideal.{{book ref|sa1|118}}

This book had enormous impact on both [[Gavilar Kholin]] and, later, [[Dalinar Kholin]]. After having it read to them several times, they become more and more honorable, which is a large contrast to typical modern [[Alethi]] behavior. Interestingly, both began to receive [[Almighty]]'s visions through the [[Stormfather]] after they began to listen to ''The Way of Kings''.{{book ref|sa1|12}}

In addition, ''The Way of Kings'' is of great personal importance to Dalinar. Following his brother's death, he began to put himself back together after listening to [[Jasnah Kholin]] read it.{{book ref|sa3|105}} Over the following years, he re-listened to it multiple times and began to base his own outlook on the world on its teachings.{{book ref|sa1|12}} In addition, two of his visions, one of which didn't come from Stormfather, were concerned with [[Nohadon]] and his work. When the time came to confront [[Odium]] at the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], Dalinar decided to carry the book with him rather than taking any weapon.{{book ref|sa3|115}} Odium destroyed this particular copy in an attempt to break Dalinar's spirit; however, by then he had taken its teachings to heart.{{book ref|sa3|118}}

Note: apart from the postscript and the eighth parable, none of the excerpts are named or numbered; as such, the names given here are purely informal.

=== Introduction ===

[[Jasnah]] reads the entirety of ''The Way of Kings'' on the night of [[Gavilar]]'s funeral, but only an early section is quoted, describing how a meeting with a supposed prophet caused Nohadon to set out on his journey, and explaining the structure of the book. It's possible that this is part of a foreword.

{{quote

|You must find the most important words a man can say.

Those words came to me from one who claimed to have seen the future. 'How is this possible?’ I asked in return. ‘Have you been touched by the void?’

The reply was laughter. 'No, sweet king. The past is the future, and as each man has lived, so must you.’

‘So I can but repeat what has been done before?’

‘In some things, yes. You will love. You will hurt. You will dream. And you will die. Each man’s past is your future.’

‘Then what is the point?’ I asked. ‘If all has been seen and done?’

‘The question,’ she replied, ‘is not whether you will love, hurt, dream, and die. It is what you will love, why you will hurt, when you will dream, and how you will die. This is your choice. You cannot pick the destination, only the path.’

This started my journey. And this begins my writings. I cannot call this book a story, for it fails at its most fundamental to be a story. It is not one narrative, but many. And though it has a beginning, here on this page, my quest can never truly end.

I wasn’t seeking answers. I felt that I had those already. Plenty, in multitude, from a thousand different sources. I wasn’t seeking ‘myself.’ This is a platitude that people have ascribed to me, and I find the phrase lacks meaning.

In truth, by leaving, I was seeking only one thing.

A journey.

|{{book ref|sa3|105}}

}}

=== The eighth parable ===

This is the only parable to be presented in its entirety, as quoted by [[Dalinar Kholin]]. It elaborates on the principle of "[[Immortal Words#The First Ideal|journey before destination]]" through the story of Nohadon's family and friends reacting to his journey both before he sets out and after he arrives in Urithiru.

Yes, I could have traveled quickly. But all men have the same ultimate destination. Whether we find our end in a hallowed sepulcher or a pauper’s ditch, all save the Heralds themselves must dine with the Nightwatcher.

And so, does the destination matter? Or is it the path we take? I declare that no accomplishment has substance nearly as great as the road used to achieve it. We are not creatures of destinations. It is the journey that shapes us. Our callused feet, our backs strong from carrying the weight of our travels, our eyes open with the fresh delight of experiences lived.

In the end, I must proclaim that no good can be achieved of false means. For the substance of our existence is not in the achievement, but in the method. The Monarch must understand this; he must not become so focused on what he wishes to accomplish that he diverts his gaze from the path he must take to arrive there.

|The 8th parable from ''The Way of Kings'', quoted by [[Dalinar]]{{book ref|sa1|58}}

=== The man and a stone ===

This is presumably an excerpt from another parable. It talks about the loneliness and burdens of kingship.

=== Candles ===

Part of yet another, unnumbered parable. It is concerned with responsibilities that come with royal power.

=== Stack of stones ===

This particular section describes how a structure - here, a stack of stones, but the metaphor can be applied to both people and groups - will collapse if its very foundation is removed.

|I passed a curious pile of stones along my path, of a type I found remarkable. The fractured shale had been weathered by highstorms, blown up against stone of a more durable nature. This pile of thin wafers lay as if stacked by some mortal hand.

But no man had stacked these stones. Precarious though they looked, they were actually quite solid, a formation from once-buried strata now exposed to open air. I wondered how it was possible they remained in such a neat stack, with the fury of the tempests blowing against them.

I soon ascertained their true nature. I found that force from one direction pushed them back against one another and the rock behind. No amount of pressure I could produce in that manner caused them to shift. And yet, when I removed one stone from the bottom—pulling it out instead of pushing it in—the entire formation collapsed in a miniature avalanche.

|{{book ref|sa2|38}}

=== Hogman's murder ===

Dalinar tells this parable to [[Taravangian]] while discussing morality. It's unusual among others in that it does not provide a clear solution to the problems it presents; perhaps, the point of it is to say that sometimes, there are no good solutions and no clear-cut answers.

|On my sixtieth day, I passed a town whose name shall remain unspoken. Though still in lands that named me king, I was far enough from my home to go unrecognized. Not even those men who handled my face daily—in the form of my seal imprinted upon their letters of authority—would have known this humble traveler as their king.

In this town, I found men bedeviled. There had been a murder. A hogman, tasked in protecting the landlord’s beasts, had been assaulted. He lived long enough, only, to whisper that three of the other hogmen had gathered together and done the crime.

I arrived as questions were being raised, and men interrogated. You see, there were four other hogmen in the landlord’s employ. Three of them had been responsible for the assault, and likely would have escaped suspicion had they finished their grim job. Each of the four loudly proclaimed that he was the one who had not been part of the cabal. No amount of interrogation determined the truth.

|{{book ref|sa3|28}}

}}

The ending to the parable isn't quoted, but is summarized by Dalinar.

{{quote

|Nohadon eventually wrote that the landlord took a modest approach. He imprisoned all four. Though the punishment should have been death, he mixed together the guilt and innocence, and determined that the average guilt of the four should deserve only prison.

(...)

[Nohadon] said the only course was to let the Almighty guide, and let each instance be judged differently, depending on circumstances.

|{{book ref|sa3|28}}

}}

=== Postscript ===

The epigraphs for last few chapters of ''[[Oathbringer]]'' (119-122) are taken from the postscript to ''The Way of Kings'', as Nohadon reflects on his journey. Put together, they read:

{{quote

|As I began my journey, I was challenged to defend why I insisted on traveling alone. They called it irresponsible. An avoidance of duty and obligation.

Those who said this made an enormous mistake of assumption.

If the journey itself is indeed the most important piece, rather than the destination itself, then I traveled not to avoid duty—but to seek it.

It becomes the responsibility of every man, upon realizing he lacks the truth, to seek it out.

Yes, I began my journey alone, and I ended it alone.

But that does not mean that I walked alone.

|''The Way of Kings'', postscript{{book ref|sa3|119}}{{book ref|sa3|120}}{{book ref|sa3|121}}{{book ref|sa3|122}}

}}

=== Other quotes ===

There are also several smaller quotes scattered through the book, such as:

{{quote

|There is honor in loss, if that loss brings learning.

|{{book ref|sa1|60}}

== Trivia ==

* Brandon Sanderson's favorite part of the book is the parable about the man carrying the heavy stone.{{wob ref|7739}}

* The book is known off-world, although it has not found its way to [[Scadrial]].{{wob ref|6865}}

* Brandon has briefly considered writing the entirety of ''The Way of Kings''. He eventually decided not to, stating it would be too much work for too little pay-off, and that he'd rather leave himself leeway to create new passages as necessary.{{wob ref|8997}}{{wob ref|11862}}

{{complete}}