The quote from Mark Helprin's "Winter's Tale" explores the profound emotional experience of madness. It suggests that to be mad is to intensely feel emotions linked to moments that are either lost to the past or not yet experienced. This can lead to a heightened sense of sadness and joy intertwined in one's mind, making the emotional landscape complex and overwhelming. It reflects a struggle with time, where the individual becomes acutely aware of what has been and what could be.

This perspective on madness invites readers to consider how emotions can distort our perception of reality. The intense feelings associated with past regrets and future hopes can create a tumultuous inner world. Helprin's exploration reveals that those who experience such madness may not just be unmoored from reality; instead, they might be deeply connected to every potential emotional aspect of existence that time encompasses.