The Shawshank Redemption (1994) features this somber moment where Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, played by Morgan Freeman, cautions Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins. During a conversation in the prison yard, Red delivers the iconic line: 'Let me tell you something, my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. It's got no use on the inside.' This heavy dialogue reflects Red's institutionalized mindset and his fear of being crushed by disappointment after decades behind bars. In the digital age, this clip has become a staple for expressing cynicism or the protective power of pessimism. It is frequently used when a person is tempted to believe in a positive outcome but knows better from past experience. Whether it is a sports fan whose team might finally win or a gamer waiting for a buggy title to be fixed, the meme perfectly captures the defensive mechanism of tempering expectations. Example captions include: 'Me trying not to get excited about a first date after three years of ghosting,' 'When the devs announce a release date but you've been burned before,' or 'My brain trying to stay positive on a Sunday night.'