Ahmad reported: Mutarrif, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “That I spend the night sleeping and awaken regretful is more beloved to me than to spend the night standing in prayer and awaken impressed with myself.”
Source: al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad Ibn Ḥanbal 1357
عن أحمد عَنْ مُطَرِّفٍ قَالَ رحمه الله لأَنْ أَبِيتَ نَائِمًا وَأُصْبِحَ نَادِمًا أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَبِيتَ قَائِمًا وَأُصْبِحَ مُعْجَبًا
1357 الزهد لأحمد بن حنبل