The Most Important Step

Brandon Sanderson is one of the highest regarded fantasy writers currently working, with well-known works including the Mistborn Trilogy and The Stormlight Archives. The Stormlight Archives is Sanderson’s grand fantasy epic and will be what we focus on today. Namely, a quote from the story. Please note that there are mild spoilers for Oathbringer, the third book of the Archives.

The Stormlight Archives is full of great quotes. The magic system is linked to philosophy and personal revelations that generate memorable lines as the characters swear Ideals to gain powers. The quote for this article, however, comes from a text within the text. There is a book in the world of the Archives called The Way of Kings, written by a wandering king named Nohadon. The Way of Kings is a source of inspiration for Dalinar, one of the series’ primary characters.

Dalinar often refers to the book, and it poses a question he puzzles over for much of Oathbringer: What is the most important step a man can take? He concludes that it’s the first step until he reaches the end of the story and faces off against great evil. This leads to his revelation:

The most important step a man can take. It’s not the first one, is it?

It’s the next one. Always the next step, Dalinar.

Of all the series’ memorable lines, this one comes to mind most often. It has a special resonance that comes from an observation of a journey not often seen. People exalt the first step, but it’s the next that matters most. So today, we’ll be exploring this quote, why the first step is not the most important, and how we can learn from Sanderson’s story.

The First Step

Throughout Oathbringer, Dalinar has struggled with returning memories regarding a past misdeed. Saying any more would spoil too much of the story, but it is a turbulent time in his life. He struggles with taking the first step until the story’s climax when he has his revelation about the next step over the first, which gives him the strength to continue fighting the antagonist.

But why is the first step not the most important? You can find real-world examples with New Year’s Resolutions. How many people have decided they will get that gym membership in the New Year? Eat better, handle their money better, whatever it is they resolve to do, they’ll start strong. Gyms report massive spikes in memberships in January, but by the summer, a large percentage of these new memberships will have left because they didn’t take the next step, only the first. Taking the first step is one thing, but the next step isn’t just a choice. It’s a commitment.

You can only take so many first steps. If you continue to move in new directions and take one first step this way, then another that way, you’ll walk in a circle. Your journey won’t go anywhere, which is why you need the next step. Each subsequent step carries you further along, towards the reason you resolved to make that first step. Better finances, better health, whatever destination you have in mind to enrich your life. The first step sets you on that path, but the next one carries you along.

The Next Step

Some variant of “It’s the journey that matters, not the destination,” is a common motivational quote. Dalinar’s answer approaches this from a slightly different angle. One way to interpret the quote is, “It’s the journey that matters, not where you start.” This interpretation fits the story because Dalinar decides to become a better man from a start that is plagued with death and brutality. But he draws strength from the next step.

If you consider a journey, even just a trip to the fridge for a snack, you see the steps. The first step is but one of many, as is the final step. Everything between those two points, the beginning, and the end, is the journey. Those are the steps that change you. These are the moments that you continue forward, towards who you want to be and away from where you started. Not every step along this path will be easy. Many of them will be hard. But it’s worth it because the journey brings you to the destination.

The Final Step

Despite what others have said, the end of the journey is also critical. It’s the guiding force of the next step. Without some idea of where you’re going, the journey because a meander in the darkness. Sometimes the wandering might be part of the journey to find the true path, but it’s easy to lose sight of where you were going and avoid change. Without a goal, the next step won’t lead anywhere, much as endless first steps lead you in a circle.

This doesn’t mean that the journey isn’t flexible or that it’s the same for every person. If you resolve to build a healthier lifestyle and take the first step, nobody can tell you what that means. For some, a healthier lifestyle might mean dropping thirty pounds or cleaning up a poor diet. Other people might look inward to correct mental shortcomings to reach a healthier self, and others still will try to mend relationships with the people around them. As you walk, you might find that your original destination has shifted, or you misunderstood what you needed or wanted. But you have time to figure it out.

Some journeys never end. With the resolution to be healthier, you must ask yourself some big questions. Why don’t you consider yourself healthy now? What does a “healthier you” look like, and what steps can you take to get there? But once you reach that destination, that healthier you, there’s one final question: How will you stay like this? Do you let yourself slide back to where you were? Do you find another goal further along this path, making this final step a milestone rather than the finish line? Once you reach the destination, the next journey begins. It’s time for the next step.

Sanderson’s works are among my favorites. He’s well-known for crafting hard magic systems with clear rules and great worldbuilding, but what I find most fascinating about his stories are the philosophies he weaves in. It makes his novels quotable and memorable, and no quote encapsulates this better than “it’s the next one. Always the next step, Dalinar.” Gentle, but invaluable advice. Whatever your journey, I hope you find the next step firm and fulfilling.