Question

4. What is the meaning of the following excerpt? Explain

"He who will not be a hammer must be an anvil. An anvil we are today and that anvil will
be beaten until out of the anvil we fashion once more a hammer, a German sword!

Answer 1

The excerpt describes a transformation from a passive state, represented as an 'anvil,' to an active and powerful state symbolized by a 'hammer' or 'German sword,' signifying the rise of strength and influence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt "He who will not be a hammer must be an anvil. An anvil we are today and that anvil will be beaten until out of the anvil we fashion once more a hammer, a German sword!" speaks to the concept of power dynamics and transformation. It implies that a person or group, presumably the German nation mentioned, is currently in a passive or receiving position being shaped by external forces, like an anvil being struck by a hammer. However, there is an intention or destiny to change this position to one where they become the active force, shaping others as a hammer or a powerful sword would. This suggests a period of tribulation that will eventually lead to the rise of strength and the ability to exert influence.

Answer 2

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

"He who will not be a hammer must be an anvil. An anvil we are today and that anvil will be beaten until out of the anvil we fashion once more a hammer, a German sword!"

The meaning of the excerpt is the following.

Bernhard Von Bülow (1849-1929) was the one who said that quote. He expressed that idea as the Foreign Minister of Germany. What he tried to say was that Germany was ready to strike against those enemies and was also ready to counter-attack any aggression from their enemies. Either way, Germany had the resources to be successful in any situation.

The above-mentioned quote was part of his famous speech "Hammer and the Evil," delivered on December 11, 1899.