How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Our body is healthy and strength returns to it speedily. We lunged against the door and it gave way. We stole through the dark passages, and through the dark streets, and down into our tunnel. (6.26)
When he escapes from prison, Equality 7-2521 is escaping from more than just physical confinement. He's also escaping from his society, at least in his mind. As he says shortly before this, one reason it's so easy to escape from prison is because it's expected no one would have the will to actively disobey society again and do it. But Equality 7-2521 is now willing to do just that. He no longer feels himself bound to obey society. He's already gone a long way towards escaping from it completely and arriving at freedom.
Quote #8
We awoke when a ray of sunlight fell across our face. We wanted to leap to our feet, as we have had to leap every morning of our life, but we remembered suddenly that no bell had rung and that there was no bell to ring anywhere. (8.2)
Equality 7-2521's first morning of freedom is blissful. It comes as something of a shock to him that he no longer has to wait for "the bell" – for societal permission. He can do whatever he wants now. He's completely free.
Quote #9
But what is freedom? Freedom from what? There is nothing to take a man's freedom away from him, save other men. To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. That and nothing else. (12.15)
Equality 7-2521 gives us his definition of freedom here: freedom is freedom from other men. It's the individual's ability to be alone, to do what he wants (as opposed to what other men want), to enjoy what he possesses on his own (and not share). Because other men threaten to take all of that away, freedom from them is the most basic and important kind of freedom there is.