"In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer"

This quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow speaks to the idea that in life, one must pick to either be a passive recipient of the occasions that occur or an active individual in shaping their own destiny. The anvil is a sign of passivity, as it is a tool that is utilized to shape metal by being struck by a hammer. The hammer, on the other hand, is a symbol of action, as it is the tool that is utilized to form the anvil. By selecting to be an anvil, one is choosing to accept the events that occur in life without actively trying to shape them. By selecting to be a hammer, one is selecting to take an active role in their life and form their own destiny. This quote is a reminder that in life, one should pick to either be a passive recipient of events or an active individual in shaping their own destiny.