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Zamyatin uses the symbol of glass to reveal the restriction of civil liberties the people of The One State face due to the conflict which has resulted from the 200 years war. The glass is a an example of how the society, in a time of conflict, gives up its civil liberties in order to feel secure. During D-503’s Fourth Entry, he talks of how, “At all other times we live behind our transparent walls that seem woven of gleaming air – we are always visible, always washed with light […] Besides, this makes much easier the difficult and noble task of the Guardians” (Zamyatin 18). D-503 talks of how everyone in The One State is always under constant surveillance, fearing that their security will be destroyed if someone’s civil liberties are given priority. This constant surveillance makes the Guardian’s jobs easier because without privacy, it is very hard to conceal things from The One State and the Guardians. Privacy is a civil liberty which should not be sacrificed during a time of conflict. Another point within the book where D-503 is talking of the transparency of the glass and its lack of privacy is during his Nineteenth Entry where he says, “Through the sun-drenched walls I can see far, both right and left and down, the empty rooms suspended in the air, repeating themselves as in a mirror” (Zamyatin 108). The ability for people to see into other’s rooms removes the privacy of individuals, and thus removes a civil liberty for the addition of security. Also, Zamyatin uses the word “through” to convey a helpless feeling, knowing that people were unable to hide anything from others. This complete lack of privacy allows for The One State to constantly spy on people while still offering complete protection to its citizens. Privacy is an essential civil liberty, and The One State lacks any sort of balance between this privacy and the security represented by the glass.