But the truth is that our brain is actually quite active while we slumber. Sleep has, for the most part, always been seen as a “passive” activity that our body performs on its own. death being the perfect fulfillment of sleep and sleep being the imperfect embodiment of death. In fact, according to an ancient Greek proverb, death and sleep are brothers. There are actually a number of things that can go wrong when you close your eyes and slip into unconsciousness-and for some people, the danger is real enough that they never wake up again. SEE ALSO: Top 10 Amazing Facts About Dreams But did you know that sleeping can also be dangerous? Next to eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise, getting adequate sleep is a staple cornerstone to a healthy life.