“There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow.”

Simplified Meaning:

When we experience our first really big sadness or loss, it often feels like the worst pain imaginable. This type of sorrow can completely overwhelm us because it’s new and we are not prepared for it. Imagine a little child losing their favorite toy for the first time. The child cries a lot and thinks nothing will make them happy again; this is similar to how anyone feels with their first deep sadness. Over time, we learn how to cope and get through difficult times from experience and support from others. The first big sorrow seems so intense because it’s a new and shocking experience for us. However, as we go through life, we learn that we can heal and find happiness again after sadness. From this, we can understand that pain is often strongest when it is new, but it does get easier to handle with time and experience.