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the wheel of time - What can Aes Sedai say about the future?


In the Wheel of Time, according to the First Oath, an Aes Sedai can 'speak no word that is not true'. So what can she say (Foretellings aside) about that notoriously unpredictable realm, the future? (The same question could apply to statements made in the ancient language in Paolini's Inheritance series, if people know that but not WoT.)


If she says, "This will happen", does it mean she has to be certain it will happen, or just that she thinks it will happen, or hopes it will, or thinks it more than 50% likely it will?


Can she say, "We'll be fine" if: a) it's very unlikely, but she's kidded herself into believing it? b) she recognises it's very unlikely, and doesn't believe it, but wants to reassure someone else?


Is there any difference between 'shall' and 'will' in what she can say, i.e. in whether the choice of words implies the speaker's volition? E.g. maybe she can say "You shall do this" meaning "I command you to do this" but not "You will do this" as a statement about the future?


Admittedly this is really more of a philosophical question about truth than an SFF question, but there could be an answer to this in maybe an interview with RJ. And for all you duplicate-question-closers out there, I've looked at this question and although the top answer there does discuss Aes Sedai statements about the future, it's only in the context of statements about what the speaker herself will do, and doesn't answer any of my specific questions above.




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