Anthem Love Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

It is our second Transgression of Preference, for we do not think of all our brothers, as we must, but only of one, and their name is Liberty 5-3000. We do not know why we think of them. We do not know why, when we think of them, we feel of a sudden that the earth is good and that it is not a burden to live. (2.11)

Equality 7-2521's love for Liberty 5-3000 makes her seem vastly more important to him than anyone else. That is one of the biggest no-nos so far as his society is concerned, because he's not supposed to prefer any one person to another. It's also striking that Liberty 5-3000 seems to make him so much happier than he's ever been. It's almost as if he's surprised to find that life can be pleasurable, rather than a burden.

Quote #5

Yet we call them the Golden One, for they are not like the others. The Golden One are not like the others. (2.12)

Liberty 5-3000 is unique in Equality 7-2521's eyes. He gives her a new name, essentially giving her an individual identity by doing so. It's noteworthy that he's never thought to give himself a name before. Instead, it's love for another person that first makes him identify someone as an individual.

Quote #6

And we sighed, as if a burden had been taken from us, for we had been thinking without reason of the Palace of Mating. And we thought that we would not let the Golden One be sent to the Palace. How to prevent it, how to bar the will of the Councils, we knew not, but we knew suddenly that we would. (2.35)

Love for Liberty 5-3000 also leads Equality 7-2521 to one of his first experiences of possessiveness. He wants Liberty 5-3000 to be his and his alone, and feels resentment towards both the government who would take her away and towards anyone else who would have her.