India, July 12 -- Many years in public life have taught me that wisdom often arrives unexpectedly. Sometimes it comes from economists, diplomats or philosophers. And sometimes, it comes from a doctor who has spent a lifetime standing between life and death.

Recently, I had the privilege of meeting one of India's most distinguished cardiologist, a man who spent decades at AIIMS caring for patients from every conceivable background. During our conversation, he shared a simple observation that made a very strong impact on me.

He said that after thousands of patients and countless years in medicine, he had come to believe that there exists an invisible guiding principle in human life--namely that the combined total of human intervention and...