When the uncertain future becomes the past, the past in turn becomes uncertain."
-- Unseen narrator (Prologue )

Importance: This beautifully written sentence both showcases Hamid’s eloquent and unique writing style and suggests the similarity between the historical incident just described in the prologue (the trial of Dara Shikoh) and the main narrative to follow. It vaguely foreshadows what should be expected from Hamid’s fictional story.

Information is key at these things: no one wants to be caught holding social stock that’s about to crash.”
-- Darashikoh (as narrator) (Chapter 3: Two)

Importance: This quote expresses the mindset of the rich and powerful. In Hamid’s novel, the elite care greatly about how they are perceived by others, as evidenced by their fear of being shamed. This embarrassment can be inferred from Hamid’s word choice of “caught,” which suggests a shameful discovery that the original secret-holder intended to keep contained.

Secrets make life more interesting. You can be in a...
-- Mumtaz (Chapter 5: Three)