Morpheus is a Meanie

April 8, 2007 10:11 AM

Sandman Fans: I need a quotation, but I don't have the graphic novel. It's from the first volume. He's leaving Hell after retrieving one of his toys, and Morpheus says something about how the worst thing you can do to the condemned in Hell is give them hope. What's the actual quote?
posted by scaryblackdeath to media & arts (6 comments total)

LUCIFER: Helmet or no, you have no power here--what power have dreams in hell?

DREAM: You say I have no power? Perhaps you speak truly...

But--you say that DREAMS have no power here?

Tell me, Lucifer Morningstar...

Ask yourselves, all of you...

What power would HELL have if those here imprisoned were not able to DREAM of HEAVEN?


(then Lucifer pouts for a while about Dream's harsh snap)
posted by lemuria at 10:27 AM on April 8, 2007

I think you have things a bit scrambled. Hope is what Dream becomes in order to win the helmet back from Choronzon. And then the quote you might be looking for(though with the wrong sentiment) comes later when he manages to walk out of Hell by pointing out, "What power would Hell have if those here imprisoned were not able to dream of Heaven?"
posted by Su at 10:27 AM on April 8, 2007

Man, that was fast. I was about to go get the book out.
posted by HighTechUnderpants at 10:28 AM on April 8, 2007

Thanks, all!
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:07 AM on April 8, 2007

Isn't there another similar exchange later on (I want to say in the fourth volume) ... something about how the denizens of Hell now have hope ... "But don't you understand - that makes it so much worse!"
posted by jbickers at 3:10 PM on April 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

Yeah, jbickers, it's at the end of 'Season of Mists,' when the two angels take over and start what one of them seems to think will be a more enlightened management of Hell, but one of the damned souls reacts with that great quote about how giving them the chance at redemption (I think) just makes Hell that much harder to bear.
posted by mediareport at 11:21 PM on April 8, 2007