Anthem Book Quotes!!!!!!?

Question

What is the meaning of the quoutes

"We alone, of the thousands who walk this earth, we alone in this hour are doing a work which has now purpose save that we wish to do it." (chapter 1)

"are we proud of this thread of metal, or of our hands which made it, or is there a line to divide these two?" (Chapter 5)

and

"Only the glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us strength." (chapter 7)

Please seperate by quote
thank you so much!

Answer 1

Hope this helps. These are my interpretations of the meanings.


"We alone, of the thousands who walk this earth, we alone in this hour are doing a work which has now purpose save that we wish to do it." (chapter 1)

The character is at this point both appalled and excited to be doing work on his own, which is considered evil by the society in which he lives. So, he alone out of all the people in his world is world is working on something only for the desire to be doing it. Not necessarily for the greater good of the community - not because he was told to do it.


"are we proud of this thread of metal, or of our hands which made it, or is there a line to divide these two?" (Chapter 5)

He is wondering about pride at this point. He wonders whether he is proud of the creation or of himself and his ability to have created it. Then he wonders if there is a difference between those two things.
and


"Only the glass box in our arms is like a living heart that gives us strength." (chapter 7)

Remember at this point, his whole world has come crashing down around him. He is disillusioned by his society. He no longer cares about any of the things he was raised to believe. The only thing that gives him any hope or reason to go on is the "glass box." In it he finds hope that solitude may not be as horrible as he has been taught. Perhaps the freedom to create will justify the "evil" of working alone.

Answer 2

Anthem Book Quotes

Answer 3

Anthem Quotes

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Anthem Book Quotes!!!!!!?
What is the meaning of the quoutes

"We alone, of the thousands who walk this earth, we alone in this hour are doing a work which has now purpose save that we wish to do it." (chapter 1)

"are we proud of this thread of metal, or of our hands which made it, or is there a line to...

Answer 5

The first meaning is that man's purpose in life can be just that he wishes to do an act as opposed to someone doing something they may not wish to do but are forced to because of pressure from others.- I will expand upon that in a bit.

the second displays pride both in our bodies - in this case hands, and the things created by that body both at the same time.

In the third, the glass box is a creation of the speaker and he speaks of it as a living heart because it is one of the reasons for his existence, to create, and that gives him strength by virtue of having created, to go on and create more.

To get back to the first quote now, Ayn Rand felt that man should not be forced to serve others nor should he be condemned for wanting to do something for the sake of doing it., This can be shown in John Galt's oath in "Atlas Shrugged" -Only the bible has sold more books over time -

" I swear by my life and by my love of it
That I will never live my life for the sake
of another man, nor ask him to live for mine."

Answer 6

It's easier when you know what he means by "we" he's referring to himself but his society wants everyone as an equal so he uses our or we.