I recall the sun filtering through the magnolia tree outside my office and lighting this scene: Paul seated before me, his beautiful hands exceedingly still, his prophet’s beard full, those dark eyes taking the measure of me … I remember thinking ‘You must remember this,' because what was falling on my retina was precious. And because, in the context of Paul’s diagnosis, I became aware of not just his mortality but my own.
-- Abraham Verghese (Foreward)

Importance: This quote from the Introduction reflects one of the main elements of the book to follow: the preciousness of life, moments of life, in the face / awareness of death.

In this room, I had sat with patients and explained terminal diagnoses and complex operations; in this room, I had congratulated patients on being cured of a disease and seen their happiness at being returned to their lives; in this room, I had pronounced patients dead...
-- The Author (Paul Kalathini) (Prologue)