I speak of a love that brings sight to the blind. Of a love stronger than fear. I speak of a love that brings meaning into life, that defies natural laws of deterioration, that causes us to flourish, that knows no bounds. I speak of the triumph of the human spirit over selfishness and death.
-- U Ba (Part I, Chapter 1 paragraph 13)

Importance: Julia Win, in Kalaw, Thailand, searching for her father, meets U Ba almost immediately. U Ba contends that the story he is about to tell Julia is of love and romance. Julia thinks that U Ba is speaking of something fantastical, like a fairy tale; but, U Ba explains that true love is real. Not only is love real, but it is life-changing as well. It is important the U Ba speaks of life and death because death will make its mark by the end of the novel.

And so there must be in life...
-- Julia (Part I, Chapter 4 paragraph 1)