Who said “In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer.”?

Verified

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceHyperion (1839)

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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Hyperion (1839).

APA

Longfellow, H. W. (n.d.). In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9434-in-this-world-a-man-must-either-be/

MLA

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9434-in-this-world-a-man-must-either-be/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/9434-in-this-world-a-man-must-either-be/.

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