---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A dream is not what you see when you…"
description: "\"“A dream is not what you see when you sleep. It is what keeps you from falling asleep.”\" — Abdul kalam"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/abdul-kalam-14321_ambition_a-dream-is-not-what-you-see-when-you-sle_233147.png"
---

#  A dream is not what you see when you sleep. It is what…

![“A dream is not what you see when you sleep. It is what keeps you from falling asleep.” quote by Abdul kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/abdul-kalam-14321_ambition_a-dream-is-not-what-you-see-when-you-sle_233147.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/abdul-kalam-14321_ambition_a-dream-is-not-what-you-see-when-you-sle_233147.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/007/abdul-kalam-14321_ambition_a-dream-is-not-what-you-see-when-you-sle_233147.png)

> ““A dream is not what you see when you sleep. It is what keeps you from falling asleep.””

[Abdul kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Dreams act as a force that keeps one awake, motivating action and preventing complacency, rather than merely nighttime visions.

**In simple terms:** Dreams keep you motivated and awake.

Key Takeaway

Let your aspirations drive daily action.

Themes

motivation purpose achievement

Mood

inspirational hopeful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- personal development

Key Concepts

visionary thinking goal setting

Questions to Reflect On

- What dream fuels your daily actions?
- How do you turn dreams into concrete steps?

A Different Perspective

Dreams can cause anxiety if unrealistic; balance ambition with realism.

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[Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Asleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asleep/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Falling asleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falling-asleep/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/)

## Related quotes

> [“A dream is not what you see when you sleep. A dream is what you keeps you from falling asleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/a-dream-is-not-what-you-see-when-you-sleep-a-dream-is-what-you-keeps/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [You can get anywhere on earth by falling asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/you-can-get-anywhere-on-earth-by-falling-asleep/)

[Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/)

> [I love to sleep because I need the rest, but I hate to miss something. I would love to be able to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hampson/i-love-to-sleep-because-i-need-the-rest-but-i-hate-to-miss-something/)

[Thomas Hampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hampson/)

> [“When you are angry try your best to go to sleep, it keeps you away from speaking, writing and thinking while you are angry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/when-you-are-angry-try-your-best-to-go-to-sleep-it-keeps-you-away/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [My love doesn't sleep, it keeps on looking for you with it's eyes open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/my-love-doesn-t-sleep-it-keeps-on-looking-for-you-with-it-s-eyes-open/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [I really think that I don't mind people sleeping during my films, because I know that some very good films might prepare you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbas-kiarostami/i-really-think-that-i-don-t-mind-people-sleeping-during-my-films/)

[Abbas Kiarostami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbas-kiarostami/)

> [Going to bed. Finally. Falling asleep to the new Mothers Anthem record. Yeah you wish you had it! Fuckers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-worsnop/going-to-bed-finally-falling-asleep-to-the-new-mothers-anthem-record/)

[Danny Worsnop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-worsnop/)

> [I still fall asleep with the TV on, because I'm used to falling asleep with people yelling 'Action!' and 'Cut!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynch/i-still-fall-asleep-with-the-tv-on-because-i-m-used-to-falling-asleep/)

[Jennifer Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynch/)

> [I often have trouble falling asleep at night, so when I'm lying in bed I think up stories. That's where I do a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sue-park/i-often-have-trouble-falling-asleep-at-night-so-when-i-m-lying-in-bed/)

[Linda Sue Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sue-park/)

> [I'll never waste my dreams by falling asleep. Never again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/i-ll-never-waste-my-dreams-by-falling-asleep-never-again/)

[Eugene Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/)

> [I'm trying to read a book on how to relax, but I keep falling asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-trying-to-read-a-book-on-how-to-relax-but-i-keep-falling-asleep/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There's nothing worse than your foot falling asleep and having to stomp around like a dinosaur until it wakes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-your-foot-falling-asleep-and-having-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Texting someone and falling asleep while waiting for the reply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fricca-joaquin/texting-someone-and-falling-asleep-while-waiting-for-the-reply/)

[Fricca Joaquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fricca-joaquin/)

> [We'd wait for my dad to come home from work, and he'd take 15, 20 minutes to just throw a football or shoot basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-luck/we-d-wait-for-my-dad-to-come-home-from-work-and-he-d-take-15-20/)

[Andrew Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-luck/)

> [I'll sleep in my clothes sometimes. I sleep in my clothes all the time, actually - in my coat. I just hate getting changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suki-waterhouse/i-ll-sleep-in-my-clothes-sometimes-i-sleep-in-my-clothes-all-the-time/)

[Suki Waterhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suki-waterhouse/)

## More by Abdul kalam

> [There are forces in life working for you and against you. One must distinguish the beneficial forces from the malevolent ones and choose correctly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/there-are-forces-in-life-working-for-you-and-against-you-one-must/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [If you FAIL, never give up because F.A.I.L. means "First Attempt in Learning". END is not the end; in fact E.N.D. means "Effort Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/if-you-fail-never-give-up-because-f-a-i-l-means-first-attempt-in/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [SUCCESS DEFINITION-- WHEN OUR SIGNATURE CHANGES TO AUTOGRAPH ,this marks the success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/success-definition-when-our-signature-changes-to-autograph-this-marks/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [All God's creatures are His family; and he is the most beloved of God who tries to do most good to God's creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/all-god-s-creatures-are-his-family-and-he-is-the-most-beloved-of-god/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [Thinking is progress. Non-thinking is stagnation of the individual, organisation and the country. Thinking leads to action. Knowledge without action is useless and irrelevant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/thinking-is-progress-non-thinking-is-stagnation-of-the-individual/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [IF you Salute your work,You do not have to salute anybody. IF you pollute your work,You have to salute everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/if-you-salute-your-work-you-do-not-have-to-salute-anybody-if-you/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [Work with integrity and succeed with integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/work-with-integrity-and-succeed-with-integrity/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [Convergence of our views on global trade issues under the WTO and our common resolve to combat terrorism provide a valuable base for mutual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/convergence-of-our-views-on-global-trade-issues-under-the-wto-and-our/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [“A dream is not what you see when you sleep. A dream is what you keeps you from falling asleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/a-dream-is-not-what-you-see-when-you-sleep-a-dream-is-what-you-keeps/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [Success is when your signature becomes an autograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/success-is-when-your-signature-becomes-an-autograph/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [My worthiness is all my doubt His Merit- all my fear- Contrasting which my quality Does however appear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/my-worthiness-is-all-my-doubt-his-merit-all-my-fear-contrasting-which/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [Difficulties in your life do not come to destroy you, but to help you realise your hidden potential and power, let difficulties know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/difficulties-in-your-life-do-not-come-to-destroy-you-but-to-help-you-2/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [When you speak, speak the truth; perform when you promise; discharge your trust... Withhold your hands from striking, and from taking that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/when-you-speak-speak-the-truth-perform-when-you-promise-discharge/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [The only day in your life… Your mother smiled when you cried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/the-only-day-in-your-life-your-mother-smiled-when-you-cried/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

> [To line only for some unknown future is superficial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-kalam/to-line-only-for-some-unknown-future-is-superficial/)

[Abdul Kalam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

[Explore all 47 Abdul kalam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-kalam/)

## More Ambition quotes

> [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/)

[Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/)

[Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/)

> [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/)

[Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/)

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[Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/)

> [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/)

[Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/)

> [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/)

[Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/)

> [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/)

[Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/)

> [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/)

[London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/)

> [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/)

[Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/)

[Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/)

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