The book, Anthem, shows how collectivism is a horrible basis of life as well as government. It teaches you that being an individual is the most important freedom that a person posses. Without this freedom, life would be harsh with a totalitarian rule over every person. Rand used many significant quotes that help prove the author's points about government, religion, and life in general.
The first quote of the entire book is also one of the most important, "It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think the words no others think" (Rand 17). These first two lines of the book help open how Equality lives his life. He cannot think without feeling guilty for it because it is forbidden by the World Council (18). This quote shows how Rand feels about religion. Her being an atheist affects this story greatly. The quote of, "This is a great sin, to be born with a head which is too quick. but it is evil to be superior" (21), helps further the understanding of the significance of the first quote. It does this by expanding the idea that learning, writing, and overall being ahead of the pack is a sin. As shown in both quotes, "sin" seems to have a large impact on Equality's life. Rand writes of sin and transgression because she believes that every man is his own god; therefore, there is no sin but against other men and himself. The first quote foreshadows the struggle Equality is going to have with himself as well as the society around him. Since Equality wants always to know more and be more, he can never fit into this perfect society were everyone is equal and obeys all laws without question. Rand makes another point here about how government can never have a totalitarian rule over the people. The message that they repeat to themselves if felt tempted, "We are one in all and all in one." (19), shows how foolish this kind of society is. The author is making fun of any government that functions in a manner where the "great WE" controls there lives and not themselves that does.