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ANTHEM
ANTHEM
by Ayn Rand
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ANTHEM
PART ONE
It is a sin to write this。 It is a sin to think words no others think and
to put them down upon a paper no others are to see。 It is base and evil。 It
is as if we were speaking alone to no ears but our own。 And we know well
that there is no transgression blacker than to do or think alone。 We have
broken the laws。 The laws say that men may not write unless the Council
of Vocations bid them so。 May we be forgiven！
But this is not the only sin upon us。 We have committed a greater
crime； and for this crime there is no name。 What punishment awaits us if
it be discovered we know not； for no such crime has come in the memory
of men and there are no laws to provide for it。
It is dark here。 The flame of the candle stands still in the air。
Nothing moves in this tunnel save our hand on the paper。 We are alone
here under the earth。 It is a fearful word； alone。 The laws say that none
among men may be alone； ever and at any time； for this is the great
transgression and the root of all evil。 But we have broken many laws。
And now there is nothing here save our one body； and it is strange to see
only two legs stretched on the ground； and on the wall before us the
shadow of our one head。
The walls are cracked and water runs upon them in thin threads
without sound； black and glistening as blood。 We stole the candle from
the larder of the Home of the Street Sweepers。 We shall be sentenced to
ten years in the Palace of Corrective Detention if it be discovered。 But
this matters not。 It matters only that the light is precious and we should not
waste it to write when we need it for that work which is our crime。
Nothing matters save the work； our secret； our evil； our precious work。
Still； we must also write； formay the Council have mercy upon us！we
wish to speak for once to no ears but our own。
Our name is Equality 7…2521； as it is written on the iron bracelet which
all men wear on their left wrists with their names upon it。 We are
twenty…one years old。 We are six feet tall； and this is a burden； for there
are not many men who are six feet tall。 Ever have the Teachers and the
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ANTHEM
Leaders pointed to us and frowned and said：
〃There is evil in your bones； Equality 7…2521； for your body has grown
beyond the bodies of your brothers。〃 But we cannot change our bones
nor our body。
We were born with a curse。 It has always driven us to thoughts
which are forbidden。 It has always given us wishes which men may not
wish。 We know that we are evil； but there is no will in us and no power
to resist it。 This is our wonder and our secret fear； that we know and do
not resist。
We strive to be like all our brother men； for all men must be alike。
Over the portals of the Palace of the World Council； there are words cut in
the marble； which we repeat to ourselves whenever we are tempted：
〃WE ARE ONE IN ALL AND ALL IN ONE。 THERE ARE NO
MEN BUT ONLY THE GREAT _WE_； ONE； INDIVISIBLE AND
FOREVER。〃
We repeat this to ourselves； but it helps us not。
These words were cut long ago。 There is green mould in the grooves
of the letters and yellow streaks on the marble； which come from more
years than men could count。 And these words are the truth； for they are
written on the Palace of the World Council； and the World Council is the
body of all truth。 Thus has it been ever since the Great Rebirth； and
farther back than that no memory can reach。
But we must never speak of the times before the Great Rebirth； else
we are sentenced to three years in the Palace of Corrective Detention。 It is
only the Old Ones who whisper about it in the evenings； in the Home of
the Useless。 They whisper many strange things； of the towers which rose
to the sky； in those Unmentionable Times； and of the wagons which
moved without horses； and of the lights which burned without flame。
But those times were evil。 And those times passed away； when men saw
the Great Truth which is this： that all men are one and that there is no will
save the will of all men together。
All men are good and wise。 It is only we； Equality 7…2521； we alone
who were born with a curse。 For we are not like our brothers。 And as we
look back upon our life； we see that it has ever been thus and that it has
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ANTHEM
brought us step by step to our last； supreme transgression； our crime of
crimes hidden here under the ground。
We remember the Home of the Infants where we lived till we were
five years old； together with all the children of the City who had been born
in the same year。 The sleeping halls there were white and clean and bare of
all things save one hundred beds。 We were just like all our brothers then；
save for the one transgression： we fought with our brothers。 There are
few offenses blacker than to fight with our brothers； at any age and for any
cause whatsoever。 The Council of the Home told us so； and of all the
children of that year； we were locked in the cellar most often。
When we were five years old； we were sent to the Home of the
Students； where there are ten wards； for our ten years of learning。 Men
must learn till they reach their fifteenth year。 Then they go to work。 In
the Home of the Students we arose when the big bell rang in the tower and
we went to our beds when it rang again。 Before we removed our
garments； we stood in the great sleeping hall； and we raised our right arms；
and we said all together with the three Teachers at the head：
〃We are nothing。 Mankind is all。 By the grace of our brothers are
we allowed our lives。 We exist through； by and for our brothers who are
the State。 Amen。〃
Then we slept。 The sleeping halls were white and clean and bare of
all things save one hundred beds。
We； Equality 7…2521； were not happy in those years in the Home of the
Students。 It was not that the learning was too hard for us。 It was that the
learning was too easy。 This is a great sin； to be born with a head which is
too quick。 It is not good to be different from our brothers； but it is evil to
be superior to them。 The Teachers told us so； and they frowned when
they looked upon us。
So we fought against this curse。 We tried to forget our lessons； but
we always remembered。 We tried not to understand what the Teachers
taught； but we always understood it before the Teachers had spoken。 We
looked upon Union 5…3992； who were a pale boy with only half a brain；
and we tried to say and do as they did； that we might be like them； like
Union 5…3992； but somehow the Teachers knew that we were not。 And we
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ANTHEM
were lashed more often than all the other children。
The Teachers were just； for they had been appointed by the Councils；
and the Councils are the voice of all justice； for they are the voice of all
men。 And if sometimes； in the secret darkness of our heart； we regret
that which befell us on our fifteenth birthday； we know that it was through
our own guilt。 We had broken a law； for we had not paid heed to the
words of our Teachers。 The Teachers had said to us all：
〃Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do when
you leave the Home of the Students。 You shall do that which the Council
of Vocations shall prescribe for you。 For the Council of Vocations knows
in its great wisdom