During the American Revolutionary War in the awful winter of 1777-79 at Valley Forge, General George Washington defied the wishes of Congress by ordering Joseph Addison’s play, Cato: A Tragedy, performed for his bedraggled troops.

Fearing that its sad conclusion would demoralize the men (Cato took his own life rather than submit to rule by Julius Caesar), Congress had forbidden it, but Washington reckoned otherwise. He knew that Cato’s principled resistance and ultimate sacrifice would inspire the troops, and indeed they did.