Nothing is predetermined, it is determined, or was determined, or will be determined. No matter, it all happened at once, in less than an instant, and time was invented because we cannot comprehend in one glance the enormous and detailed canvas that we have been given - so we track it, in linear fashion piece by piece. Time however can be easily overcome; not by chasing the light, but by standing back far enough to see it all at once. The universe is still and complete. Everything that ever was is; everything that ever will be is - and so on, in all possible combinations.
The quote from Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale" reflects on the nature of existence and time, suggesting that nothing is truly predetermined. Instead, past, present, and future coexist in a single moment. Our understanding of time as a linear construct arises from our limitations; we need to break down the immense complexity of the universe into manageable pieces to comprehend it. The idea conveyed is that reality is vast and intricate, and our perspective is restricted.
Helprin emphasizes that although we perceive events sequentially, the universe itself is an entire, unbroken entity. Everything that has ever existed and will exist is part of this complete tableau. By stepping back and viewing existence as a whole, one can grasp its entirety without being bound by the constraints of time. This perspective invites readers to consider the unity of all experiences and the timelessness of the universe.
