Paul Kalanithi quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Paul Kalanithi

Paul Kalanithi Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Paul Kalanithi on Wise Famous Quotes.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: In taking up another's cross, one must sometimes get crushed by the weight.

In taking up another's cross, one must sometimes get crushed by the weight.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Neurosurgery requires a commitment to one's own excellence and a commitment to another's identity. The

Neurosurgery requires a commitment to one's own excellence and a commitment to another's identity. The

Paul Kalanithi quotes: How much neurologic suffering would you let your child endure before saying that death is preferable?

How much neurologic suffering would you let your child endure before saying that death is preferable?

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Suffering can make us callous to the obvious suffering of another.

Suffering can make us callous to the obvious suffering of another.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Maybe, in the absence of any certainty, we should just assume that we're going to live a long time. Maybe that's the only way forward.

Maybe, in the absence of any certainty, we should just assume that we're going to live a long time. Maybe that's the only way forward.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: there's that study that says doctors do a worse job prognosticating for patients they're personally invested in.

there's that study that says doctors do a worse job prognosticating for patients they're personally invested in.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: If time dilates when one moves at high speeds, does it contract when one moves barely at all? It must: the days have shortened considerably.

If time dilates when one moves at high speeds, does it contract when one moves barely at all? It must: the days have shortened considerably.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: When there is no place for the scalpel, words are the surgeon's only tool.

When there is no place for the scalpel, words are the surgeon's only tool.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Putting lifestyle first is how you find a job --- not a calling.

Putting lifestyle first is how you find a job --- not a calling.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: You can't ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving.

You can't ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: [H]e found poetry more comforting than Scripture - and his ability to forge from his life a cogent, powerful tale of living with death.

[H]e found poetry more comforting than Scripture - and his ability to forge from his life a cogent, powerful tale of living with death.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Learning to judge whose lives could be saved, whose couldn't be, and whose shouldn't be requires an unattainable prognostic ability.

Learning to judge whose lives could be saved, whose couldn't be, and whose shouldn't be requires an unattainable prognostic ability.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: If the weight of mortality does not grow lighter, does it at least get more familiar?

If the weight of mortality does not grow lighter, does it at least get more familiar?

Paul Kalanithi quotes: This was summer at Sierra Camp, perhaps no different from

This was summer at Sierra Camp, perhaps no different from

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Literature not only illuminated another's experience, it provided, I believed, the richest material for moral reflection.

Literature not only illuminated another's experience, it provided, I believed, the richest material for moral reflection.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Nobody has it coming.

Nobody has it coming.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: How little do doctors understand the hells through which we put patients.

How little do doctors understand the hells through which we put patients.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: The MRI shows a mass in your brain, which is causing your symptoms." Silence. "Do you want to see the MRI?" "Yes." I

The MRI shows a mass in your brain, which is causing your symptoms." Silence. "Do you want to see the MRI?" "Yes." I

Paul Kalanithi quotes: The pain of failure had led me to understand that technical excellence was a moral requirement.

The pain of failure had led me to understand that technical excellence was a moral requirement.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: mind was simply the operation of the brain, an idea that struck me with force; it startled my naive understanding of the world

mind was simply the operation of the brain, an idea that struck me with force; it startled my naive understanding of the world

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Out of his pen he was spinning gold.

Out of his pen he was spinning gold.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Mortal duty has weight, things that have weight have gravity, and so the duty to bear mortal responsibility pulled me back.

Mortal duty has weight, things that have weight have gravity, and so the duty to bear mortal responsibility pulled me back.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: all have a notion of what it means to be good, and we can't live up to it all the time.

all have a notion of what it means to be good, and we can't live up to it all the time.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Always the seer is a sayer," Emerson wrote. "Somehow his dream is told; somehow he publishes it with solemn joy.

Always the seer is a sayer," Emerson wrote. "Somehow his dream is told; somehow he publishes it with solemn joy.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: The mind was simply the operation of the brain.

The mind was simply the operation of the brain.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: At those critical junctures, the question is not simply whether to live or die but what kind of life is worth living.

At those critical junctures, the question is not simply whether to live or die but what kind of life is worth living.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Looking out over the expanse ahead I saw not an empty wasteland but something simpler: a blank page on which I would go on.

Looking out over the expanse ahead I saw not an empty wasteland but something simpler: a blank page on which I would go on.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: The truth that you live one day at a time didn't help: What was I supposed to do with that day?

The truth that you live one day at a time didn't help: What was I supposed to do with that day?

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Science, I had come to learn, is as political, competitive, and fierce a career as you can find, full of the temptation to find easy paths

Science, I had come to learn, is as political, competitive, and fierce a career as you can find, full of the temptation to find easy paths

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Where did biology, morality, literature, and philosophy intersect?

Where did biology, morality, literature, and philosophy intersect?

Paul Kalanithi quotes: The decision to operate at all involves an appraisal of one's own abilities, as well as a deep sense of who the patient is and what she holds dear.

The decision to operate at all involves an appraisal of one's own abilities, as well as a deep sense of who the patient is and what she holds dear.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: tureen of tragedy was best allotted by the spoonful.

tureen of tragedy was best allotted by the spoonful.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Doctors, it turns out, need hope, too.

Doctors, it turns out, need hope, too.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Diseases are molecules misbehaving; the basic requirement of life is metabolism, and death its cessation.

Diseases are molecules misbehaving; the basic requirement of life is metabolism, and death its cessation.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: I got out of bed and took a step forward, repeating the phrase over and over: "I can't go on. I'll go on.

I got out of bed and took a step forward, repeating the phrase over and over: "I can't go on. I'll go on.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: The word hope first appeared in English about a thousand years ago, denoting some combination of confidence and desire. But

The word hope first appeared in English about a thousand years ago, denoting some combination of confidence and desire. But

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Even in having children in this new life, death played its part.

Even in having children in this new life, death played its part.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: As a doctor, you have a sense of what it's like to be sick, but until you've gone through it yourself, you don't really know.

As a doctor, you have a sense of what it's like to be sick, but until you've gone through it yourself, you don't really know.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: But my focus would have to be on my imminent role, intimately involved with the when and how of death - the grave digger with the forceps. Not

But my focus would have to be on my imminent role, intimately involved with the when and how of death - the grave digger with the forceps. Not

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Few books I had read so directly and wholly addressed that fundamental fact of existence: all organisms, whether goldfish or grandchild, die.

Few books I had read so directly and wholly addressed that fundamental fact of existence: all organisms, whether goldfish or grandchild, die.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Neurosurgery seemed to present the most challenging and direct confrontation with meaning, identity, and death.

Neurosurgery seemed to present the most challenging and direct confrontation with meaning, identity, and death.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Some days, I simply persist.

Some days, I simply persist.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Years ago, it had occurred to me that Darwin and Nietzsche agreed on one thing: the defining characteristic of the organism is striving. Describing

Years ago, it had occurred to me that Darwin and Nietzsche agreed on one thing: the defining characteristic of the organism is striving. Describing

Paul Kalanithi quotes: I could either study meaning or I could experience it. After

I could either study meaning or I could experience it. After

Paul Kalanithi quotes: A tureen of tragedy was best allotted by the spoonful. Only a few patients demanded the whole at once; most needed time to digest.

A tureen of tragedy was best allotted by the spoonful. Only a few patients demanded the whole at once; most needed time to digest.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: I was making the decision to do this work because this work, to me, was a sacred thing.) Lucy

I was making the decision to do this work because this work, to me, was a sacred thing.) Lucy

Paul Kalanithi quotes: What happened to Paul was tragic, but he was not a tragedy.

What happened to Paul was tragic, but he was not a tragedy.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Cadaver dissection epitomizes, for many, the transformation of the somber, respectful student into the callous, arrogant doctor.

Cadaver dissection epitomizes, for many, the transformation of the somber, respectful student into the callous, arrogant doctor.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: What kind of life exists without language?

What kind of life exists without language?

Paul Kalanithi quotes: What are you most afraid or sad about?" she asked me one night as we were lying in bed."Leaving you," I told her.

What are you most afraid or sad about?" she asked me one night as we were lying in bed.

"Leaving you," I told her.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: I had traversed the line from doctor to patient, from actor to acted upon, from subject to direct object.

I had traversed the line from doctor to patient, from actor to acted upon, from subject to direct object.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: It's very easy to be number one; find the guy who is number one, and score one point higher than he does.

It's very easy to be number one; find the guy who is number one, and score one point higher than he does.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: my imagined future and my personal identity collapsed, and I faced the same existential quandaries my patients faced.

my imagined future and my personal identity collapsed, and I faced the same existential quandaries my patients faced.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: The root of disaster means a star coming apart.

The root of disaster means a star coming apart.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Death may be a one-time event, but living with terminal illness is a process.

Death may be a one-time event, but living with terminal illness is a process.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Words have a longevity I do not.

Words have a longevity I do not.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Frail but never weak.

Frail but never weak.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: values of Christianity - sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness - because

values of Christianity - sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness - because

Paul Kalanithi quotes: The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live. -

The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live. -

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Do you think my life has meaning? Did I make the right choices?

Do you think my life has meaning? Did I make the right choices?

Paul Kalanithi quotes: It's not fair - I've been diluting my drinks with water." A

It's not fair - I've been diluting my drinks with water." A

Paul Kalanithi quotes: And with that, the future I had imagined, the one just about to be realized, the culmination of decades of striving, evaporated.

And with that, the future I had imagined, the one just about to be realized, the culmination of decades of striving, evaporated.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Humans are organisms, subject to physical laws, including, alas, the one that says entropy always increases.

Humans are organisms, subject to physical laws, including, alas, the one that says entropy always increases.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: the heroic spirit of responsibility amid blood and failure. This struck me as the true image of a doctor.

the heroic spirit of responsibility amid blood and failure. This struck me as the true image of a doctor.

Paul Kalanithi quotes: If the unexamined life was not worth living, was the unlived life worth examining?

If the unexamined life was not worth living, was the unlived life worth examining?

Paul Kalanithi quotes: In fourteenth-century philosophy, the word patient simply meant "the object of an action,

In fourteenth-century philosophy, the word patient simply meant "the object of an action,

Paul Kalanithi quotes: (Alexander Pope: "A little learning is a dangerous thing; / Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.")

(Alexander Pope: "A little learning is a dangerous thing; / Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.")

Paul Kalanithi quotes: Graham Greene once said that life was lived in the first twenty years and the remainder was just reflection. So

Graham Greene once said that life was lived in the first twenty years and the remainder was just reflection. So