“Liberty is the unalienable right of all mankind.”
–Cato’s Letters, 59
“Liberty is the power which every man has over his own actions, and his right to enjoy the fruit of his labour, art, and industry, as far as by it he hurts not the society, or any members of it, by taking from any member, or by hindering him from enjoying what he himself enjoys.”
–Cato’s Letters, 62
Published between 1720 and 1723, Cato’s Letters, written by John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon, were originally a response to corruption and arbitrary power in Great Britain. King George I ruled his empire as a constitutional monarch supported by Parliament. However, corruption was rampant and individual liberties were minimal. The series of 138 essays confronted disfunction at all levels in Britain’s government and addressed universal truths, such as a clear, yet nuanced, definition of liberty, and a new idea:
Liberty is the unalienable right of all mankind.
Through these words, John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon claim for humanity what no ruler or government may take away. This principle, so central to the founding of the United States, was radical for its time. Liberty was thought to be the property of monarchs or the privilege of the elite. Trenchard and Gordon authors rejected this. They insisted liberty belongs to all—given by nature, not by kings. It cannot be bartered, sold, or revoked. It may be threatened and must be defended, but it persists as the birthright of every person, everywhere.
Of course, while they recognized that freedom was universal, it is not absolute. A clear, nuanced definition of freedom reminds us that one person’s freedom cannot encroach upon another’s:
Liberty is the power which every man has over his own actions, and his right to enjoy the fruit of his labour, art, and industry, as far as by it he hurts not the society, or any members of it, by taking from any member, or by hindering him from enjoying what he himself enjoys.
We all have a right to liberty, so long as it does not inhibit the pursuit of someone else’s freedom.
These eighteenth-century words were revolutionary at the time and remain so. They lived in world of monarchs and empires, royals and subjects. To claim universal liberty–or freedom–was to undermine the entire foundation of Great Britain and its colonial order. And without Cato’s Letters, the fight for freedom in the budding United States would have looked every different or not even happened.
These declarations aren’t limited by geography, creed, or circumstance—they are universal. The idea that liberty exists before, and above, the power of any government is radical, both in the eighteenth century and now. Cato’s authors framed liberty as a birthright, not a privilege; it cannot be bartered or revoked, only defended or betrayed. In their era, where monarchs often ruled by divine right and subjects were considered property, this quote challenged every established order. The authors remind us that defending liberty is a daily task—a responsibility handed down to every generation willing to stand against tyranny.
Early readers of Cato’s Letters included many familiar names. Benjamin Franklin quoted from Cato’s Letters as early as 1722.
The essays greatly influenced the writings and speeches of Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry. These revolutionaries latched onto the Letters’ emphasis on what ensures liberty–free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly. The Letters explain necessary limits of government and a system of checks and balances enshrine personal liberties that protect citizens from each other and from their government. Trenchard and Gordon laid an intellectual foundation for America’s Found Fathers to build a revolutionary movement that continues to this day.
These themes resonate with concerns identified in Freedom Always Matters. Cato’s Letters underscore the fragility and contested nature of rights valued in American society. Unfortunately, these rights are easy to take for granted. The essays remind readers that even the most firmly enshrined liberties are susceptible to erosion and must be continuously safeguarded. The authors of Cato’s Letters advocated perpetual vigilance, maintaining that liberty is not simply a historical achievement but an ongoing responsibility for every generation.
Defining Freedom: Cato’s LettersCato’s Letters are as relevant as ever.
Contemporary discussions regarding free speech, civil rights, and the scope of state power fill the political air–on the news, online, and through social media. At their core, these discussions are fighting over what freedom means and who has it. Trenchard and Gordon’s framework for the universality and definition of liberty can guide an analysis of legal controversies and cultural debates where the boundaries of liberty and authority are contested. In an era marked by increasing polarization and the proliferation of misinformation, the Letters’ insistence on transparency, pluralism, and the individual’s right to challenge unjust authority is particularly salient. Cato’s Letter certainly guided America’s Found Fathers. They may be able to guide us, too.
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