Best Sandman Quotes By Dream In DC Comics – CBR – Comic Book Resources
Neil Gaiman’s Sandman has a lot of great quotes, and here are the 10 best ones said by Dream in DC Comics.
The Sandman is a comic series that features the main character of Dream of the Endless, a powerful being who rules over the Dreaming. Written by Neil Gaiman, this series is known for having intricate, dark stories that revolve around both the waking and the dreaming world, with recurring complications when those worlds collide and overlap.
The intricacy of these stories makes for some introspective reading; a much-loved feature of The Sandman comics. Gaiman regularly wrote about the difficult aspects of life while using Sandman as a tool to express poignant opinions. Thanks to Gaiman's way with a pen, some of Dream's quotes have become as iconic as the character himself.
From "The Doll's House," this quote, said by Dream, mentions his sister Desire of the Endless, who has always attempted to meddle in Dream's affairs. More than that, though, this quote displays the introspective nature that Sandman presents to its readers and fans.
On the surface, what Dream says concerns his sister, but with deeper meaning as to how the character views love, which could be a result of his experiences with love and heartbreak. Love can be seen as cruel, and the hardships people face while in love display a pessimistic but sympathetic view of what is otherwise a beautiful emotion.
In "Preludes and Nocturnes," Dream and Lucifer Morningstar are discussing power within Hell. This quote is not only an incredible comeback from Dream, but also shows the meaning dreams have, even to people in eternal damnation. What good would the punishment be without the ability to dream of a better existence?
This quote has a reflective nature that is shown consistently throughout the Sandman comics. The ability to dream is both a gift, in having the hope to continue to live, and a punishment, in always dreaming of a better life.
This quote is from "Fear of Falling," a story about a theatrical author named Todd Faber who is afraid of the outcome of his new play and whether it will be a success or a failure. Faber meets Morpheus in a dream the night before rehearsal, alongside his raven, Matthew.
This quote, as said by Dream, is inspirational and one of the best quotes by Dream in the comics. It reminds readers that although the result of anything may not be the desired outcome, it is always a mistake to never try. It is important to overcome the "fear of falling" and take the leap of faith into new territory, as the regret of never trying would be worse than the potential failure.
This quote comes from a conversation between Dream and Despair of the Endless in "Three Septembers and a January." This story revolves around Dream giving Joshua Abraham Norton, the self-proclaimed Emperor of the United States, hope to live out the rest of his life in contentment.
Much like the quote concerning Hell and Heaven, this quote shows the true power which Dream has, as without his realm, many others would not be able to exist. If people could not dream, they would not have the ability to truly know despair, as despair would be all they knew. Both must exist, or neither would.
"The Song of Orpheus" is a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus, with Morpheus and Calliope as his parents, and the addition of Destruction and Death of the Endless instructing Orpheus in reaching the underworld. This is a quote by Dream said to his son Orpheus in an attempt to help him with his grief after losing his wife, Eurydice.
The understanding nature of this quote in its approach to grief makes it powerful, knowing that grief comes in waves long after the death of the loved one, and how important it is to continue to live on. This quote could be comforting for readers going through the same emotions as Orpheus, making it one of the best quotes from Dream.
"The Wake" is the final collection of issues of The Sandman. This collection concerns itself with the wake and funeral for Morpheus. Originally said by a soldier in Latin, and repeated by Dream when asked, this quote has a deeper meaning much like many things in The Sandman universe.
The idea that nothing is lost despite the world being ever-changing is a comforting quote from Dream, implying that although people change, who they were is who they still are. There is permanence in everything within humanity, whether it be physical or otherwise, and the world changing does not change that fact.
From "A Midsummer Night's Dream," an independent story depicting the debut of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, this story is cited as the best within the series, also receiving a World Fantasy Award in 1991.
This is another quote that displays the power of Dream and how his realm is ever-lasting, even when the physical manifestation of humanity is gone. This is also reflected in the work of Shakespeare, whose work has lasted through generations and continues to be studied worldwide. Dream's quote shows that imagination and dreams endure above everything else.
Another quote from "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Dream is talking with Lady Titania about how Shakespeare once thought he wanted to write stories that would last forever until he was granted his wish. This quote is important as it tells readers how getting what one wants is not always what one needs, as often when someone gets what they want, they then find they've lost the desire for what they have.
Instead, they are left with the responsibility of maintaining what they have gained and begin to look for something else to strive for. This quote results in a lot of introspection, continuing the deep nature of The Sandman comics.
"Brief Lives" is a story in which Delirium of the Endless decides to attempt to find her brother, Destruction, who has not been seen since he abandoned his realm. Out of all of Delirium's siblings, only Dream agrees to help, and they set out to find their brother.
This quote comes from a discussion between Dream and a young girl, who asks if she remembers how to fly when dreaming and forgets upon waking, or if she is only dreaming that she can fly. The line between dreaming and reality, and whether dreaming is real is what is truly being considered here. Dream has spoken before about how dreams and hope are everlasting, and even if they have not happened in physical reality, they are still true.
During a challenge between Morpheus and the demon Choronzon, who has stolen Morpheus' helm, a battle of wits takes place, with both beings taking on the identity of an item or animal and using the abilities of that item to beat their opponent. Morpheus wins the challenge with this quote after Choronzon takes on the identity of a universe-destroying force, stating as such and asking Morpheus, "What will you be then, Dreamlord?".
Hope is the only thing that will remain after everything is destroyed, and hope is essential to Morpheus' realm and the Dreamworld. Truly believing that all humanity needs is hope to survive makes this quote one of the best from Dream in The Sandman comics.
I am a freelance writer from Motherwell, Scotland. I graduated in 2019 with a degree in English literature, Creative Writing and Journalism. I love all things comics, music, art, and animals.
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