"To speak no word that is not true"

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That's where I think the factor of intent mattering coming in. If you believe that the oath is meant to constrain your writing as well, and you know you're trying to weasel out of something that does apply, then you probably won't be able to do it (because you know you're really disobeying). But if you have the sort of mentality where you sincerely buy into the idea that if it doesn't say X, then you can do X.
This hurt my brain a bit. Going to have to get back to you on that...
 

Arinna Katal

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I just hit a point in my reread that is relevant to this question! I don't have a page number because I'm reading the Kindle version, but this is in chapter 51 of FoH. Rand has just read the letters sent to him by Elaida and Alviarin and is talking to Moiraine about them:
"'I assume an Aes Sedai can't write a lie more easily than she can speak one?' He did not wait for her nod."
Rand makes this assertion to Moiraine, and she does not contradict him. Now, we can certainly think that maybe Moiraine knows more about his assumption and is withholding for a variety of reasons (she doesn't want him to know she can lie in writing; she's astonished by evidence that Alviarin is probably Black Ajah; etc. etc. etc.), BUT it seems like the implication in the text is that the First Oath applies to the written word as well as to the spoken word.
 

Toral Delvar

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I remember this passage now
However, a nod isn't speaking - so, could an Aes Sedai lie by nodding?
 

Elania al'Manir

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I would think that the rules apply to nodding in the same way that they apply to writing.
 

Nadezhda al'Lanahrin

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I'm not sure Moiraine nodded at all. But I think her silence says more than anything.
 
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