A suprising number of physicians manage to continue to care about persons even after the rigors of medical training.

We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn.

I had repeatedly accepted inappropriate burdens, stepping in to do what needed to be done. In retrospect, I think I carried them well, but the cost was that I was chronically overloaded, weary, and short of time for politicking, smoothing ruffled feathers, and simply resting.

Every loss recapitulates earlier losses, but every affirmation of identity echoes earlier moments of clarity.

Most higher education is devoted to affirming the traditions and origins of an existing elite and transmitting them to new members.

The critical question about regret is whether experience led to growth and new learning. Some people seem to keep on making the same mistakes, while others at least make new ones. Regret and remorse can be either paralyzing or inspiring. [p. 199]

There are few things as toxic as a bad metaphor. You can't think without metaphors.