The only real distinction at this dangerous moment in human historyand cosmic development has nothing to do with medals and ribbons. Not to fall asleep is distinguished. Everything else is mere popcorn.

-Bellow, Saul
  Humboldt's Gift.

Then Jael Heber'swifetook anail ofthetent, and took an hammer inher hand, and went softly untohimand smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.

-Bible (Old Testament)
Judges 4:21.

While we are asleep in this world, we are awake in another one; in this way, every man is two men.

-Borges,Jorge Luis
Quoted in  John Russell The Meaning of Modern  Art (1974).

'I saw you take his kiss!' ''Tis true.' 'O modesty!' ''Twas strictly kept: He thought me asleepöat least, I knew He thought I thought he thought I slept.'

-Patmore, Coventry Kersey Dighton
  TheAngel in theHouse, bk.2,The Espousal, canto 8, prelude 3,'The Kiss'.

You are too young to fall asleep for ever; And when you sleep you remind me of the dead.

-Sassoon, Siegfried Louvain
  'The Dug-Out'.

Was man auch sagen mag, der glu«  cklichsteAugenblick des Glu« c klichen ist doch der seines Einschlafens wie der unglu«  cklichste des Unglu«  cklichen der seines Erwachens. Whatever we may say, the happiest moment of the happy man is that of his falling asleep, just as the unhappiest moment of the unhappy man is that of his awakening.

-Schopenhauer, Arthur
  DieWelt alsWille undVorstellung (TheWorld asWill and Representation), vol.2, ch.46 (translated by E F J Payne).