"There is evil in your bones, Equality 7-2521," he is told, and he believes it, although he does nothing to curb this "evil" inside him, the desire to produce his own thoughts. Anthem, as Prometheus's journal, displays his desire to "speak to no ears but our own," to fulfill the human need to think alone and creatively. Prometheus's devotion to fulfilling his own thoughts and understanding his world enables him to recognize the importance of a single life and individual. The most significant evidence of his supreme allegiance to this ego is that "we, Equality 7-2521 are glad to be living. If this is a vice, then we wish no virtue." He defers from the socialist philosophies of his society, that happiness should come from being a part of the all-powerful population. To him the individual is important and the single life within each body is a treasure. In doing this he demonstrates the ability to think his own thoughts regardless of the society around him. This action proves beneficial to him, as he becomes more aware of his ego, and develops a more objectivist and egoistic view toward his world. .
Anthem's society's society provides a harsh environment for love to develop, both as friendships or as marital relationships. The Council forbids people to prefer one brother to another brother, considered as the Transgression of Preference. Councils regulate every repressible aspect of a person's life. The Council of Vocations chooses every fifteen-year-old's lifetime career, imposing uniform labor on all to provide for the common welfare. The monotony of the same task preformed everyday by the same people discourages friendships. Men are not allowed to think about women save at the Time of Mating. During this period, all physically mature men and women are sent to the City Palace of Mating, having partners assigned to them by the Council of Eugenics. Even through these restrictions, Prometheus dares to see the treasure of personality in others beside himself, befriending International 4-8818 because he recognizes the mutual amity between them and International's characteristic "laughter in their eyes.
