As the delegates to the Constitutional Convention prepared to sign the final document in 1787, Benjamin Franklin pointed to a carving of the sun on the back of George Washington’s chair. For weeks, he had studied it in silence, uncertain whether it depicted a setting sun—that victory in the Revolution was already America’s high-water mark—or a rising one, signaling a new dawn and bright future for liberty.
Our North Star
In turbulent times, principle provides direction. For the Cato Institute, that guiding light is liberty—anchored in our Statement of Principles and unwavering in the face of political change. Like a North Star, those principles help us stay the course. And just as Cato looks to them to chart its path, the broader movement for liberty looks to Cato as a compass—steady, clear, and committed to a freer future.
