Cynosure

/saɪnˈəʊʒə/

/ˈsaɪnɔˌsɝ/

[noun]

Cynosure

[NOUN]

something that strongly attracts attention and admiration

something that provides guidance (as Polaris guides mariners)

Examples

1. But to the extent that we do not honor that mission, to the extent that we seem to be concerned about preserving our cynosures, to the extent that we seem to be overly ideological, we lose the confidence of the broader society upon whose generosity, I would argue, we depend.