The Sandman is one of Netflix's newest fantasy series, and it is absolutely rich in lore, visuals, and dreamlike delivery have absolutely won it some well-deserved acclaim. The long-awaited adaptation of Neil Gaiman's magnum opus is full of admirable qualities and elements, but nowhere does the author's genius shine better than in the show's writing.
The series is loaded to the brim with great lines of dialogue but like so many of the author's published works, many of these quotes carry a deeper meaning for the audience to reflect upon. Even characters like John Dee and Lucifer Morningstar can be inspirational when further analyzed. Of course, such things are to be expected from a writer of Gaiman's caliber.
“The Only Reason People Die Is Because Everyone Does It.”
Hob Gadling
The subject of immortality aside, Hob makes a rather interesting observation in his dismissal of death. This phrase uttered in both the show and the comic can be interpreted on a more philosophical level than viewers might think.
Hob might not mean dying in the biological sense, but rather in the sense of complacency. Unlike other characters in the series, Hob sees the beauty, ingenuity, and evolution of the human race centuries before the main plot of the series takes place. It might be insight, it might be optimism, it might be luck, but his determination to live and truly live is beyond admirable
“So Many People Are Looking For Reasons To Be Unhappy.”
Fiddler’s Green
Of all the characters who decidedly deserved more screen time, Gilbert/Fiddler's Green was certainly one of them, even if just to get more whimsy from Stephen Fry. However, this particular line of dialogue has a negative truth to it that continues to reaffirm itself with each passing day, especially in modern times.
Pessimism can often be a slippery slope that leads to a rocky downfall, and this quote from Gilbert solidifies the notion. As a character experiencing humanity for the first time, his perception is decidedly brighter than those who are natural-born humans. If more people saw things his way, it might be a brighter world.
“Tools Are The Subtlest Of Traps.”
Lucifer
The full quote is "Tools are the subtlest of traps. We become reliant upon them and in their absence, we are vulnerable, weak, defenseless." Lucifer Morningstar is the last character in all the realms that anyone should take any life advice from, but they do offer a pretty solid warning about relying too much on external forces.
In a sense, this is a quote about being too complacent or too reliant on a crutch. Although humans might not have access to magical rubies or enchanted helmets, they do rely on certain coping mechanisms or substances when life gets hard. The message here is self-reliance, but the quote certainly has multiple meetings just as Lucifer has multiple forms.
“Good People Seldom Survive In This World.”
John Dee
John Dee is one of the most nihilistic characters in comic books, and that factor carries over brilliantly in the series. Dr. Destiny wants to reimagine the world with the Dream Stone because of how twisted and unfair the world is, but his unhinged nature might also be to blame. That all being said, he does cut to the quick on occasion.
A better translation of this quote might be "no good deed goes unpunished," but at least Dee is kind enough to give his rescuer the protection amulet before unleashing pandemonium in "24/7." In his own way, he was at least attempting to right an injustice before he went full supervillain.
“The Truth Is A Cleansing Fire Which Burns Away The Lies We’ve Told Each Other And The Lies We’ve Told Ourselves."
John Dee
Once more, John Dee doesn't care about stepping on any toes with this pearl of blunt wisdom. Honesty is the best policy, as the saying goes, but when the truth behind the lives of the patrons of the diner is ripped out in the open, it comes with some deadly consequences.
Some say that the truth will stand when the world is on fire, and John Dee is the one holding a match and a tank of gasoline. What makes the quote so powerful is that he isn't wrong and that the truth will bring anything to a different light. His methods are malicious, but his logic is sound.
“It Is As Natural To Die As It Is To Live.”
Death
As one of the series' best characters, Death serves as the voice of reason in Dream's broody moments, and this is no exception. Unlike other personifications of death seen in movies, comics, and literature, Neil Gaiman's adaptation has a much more approachable and friendlier nature. Despite her gothic appearance, she is not the great equalizer seen in other media.
Death has essentially excepted her lot in life, and she's okay with it. She has accepted herself like all humans must accept her and her function. In short, death is a part of life, and it's better to accept it than to live in fear.
“A Demon Has A Hundred Motives For Anything He Does, All Of Them Malevolent.”
Dream
Dream has a litany of wonderful lines in the series, but this one carries a certain flavor that is unabashedly Neil Gaiman. Squatterbloat isn't the only demon he encounters in his journeys, but this warning against his kind is certainly applicable to monsters both human and nonhuman in and out of the Waking World.
If there's one thing Gaiman knows how to write, it's mystical and magical entities. There's just a palpable sense of appreciation for characters like Dream and the demons he faces, and this quote feels like a representation of the author truly knowing his work.
“What Power Would Hell Have If Those Imprisoned Here Were Not Able To Dream of Heaven?”
Dream
One of Dream's shining moments in both the comics and the series is when he puts Lucifer in their place and walks out of Hell by his own wit and wiles alone. This line assures his survival and asserts his power even in the face of the devil themselves, but it masks a more important message.
As demonstrated by his duel with the devil, Dream reminds both Lucifer and the viewers that hope never dies. In his take on "hope springs eternal," the Sandman assures even every demon and damned soul in Hell that there is always hope even in the darkest regions.
“We Do Not Choose To Be Created, Nor Do We Choose How We Are Made.”
Dream
This quote is where things get both personal and complicated, but the sentiment is still true. To take a page from Tolkien, this is Dream's (and Gaiman's by extent) answer to Gandalf's maxim of choosing what to do with the time people are given. However, Dream goes just a bit further than that by taking a sort of semi-psychological dive.
By "made," Dream isn't necessarily referring to a station or situation, but rather how personality and background are developed. Whether it's a case of nature vs. nurture or becoming a product of environmental factors, the message that comes clear is that dreamers choose not how they come to exist, but what they do with their existence.
“If Dreams Disappear, Then So Will Humanity.”
Dream
Although the context concerns the presence of a Vortex in the waking world, there's a bigger picture at play with this warning from Dream. In spite of Dream's dark and brooding demeanor, his line actually comes with a more optimistic message than some fans might consider.
Dream's warning about the fading of dreams could very easily apply in a more personal sense. It's not a "follow your dreams" message, but rather the idea that without dreams, humans cease to be human. It's more about aspirations, it's about imagination and invention as well. In no uncertain terms, humanity loses its meaning if these things are taken away.