Cui bono?

Cui bono?(Classical Latin:[kui̯ˈbɔnoː]), in English "to whom is it a benefit?", is aLatinphraseabout identifying crimesuspects.It depends on the fact thatcrimesare often committed to benefit their perpetrators; especially financially.

Usage

The phrase is adouble dativeconstruction. It can also be rendered ascui prodest?( "whom does it profit?" ) andad cuius bonum?( "for whose good?" ).

Background

L. Cassius ille, quem populus Romanus verissimum et sapientissimum iudicem putabat, identidem in causis quaerere solebat, cui bono fuisset?

Lucius Cassius,whom the Roman people used to regard as a most honest and most wise judge, was in the habit of asking time and again in lawsuits: "to whom might it be for a benefit?"

—Cicero:'Pro Roscio Amerino'

Cicero himself used the expressionCui bonoin his 'Second Philippic', once again invoking Cassius as the source: "... adopt that maxim of Cassius: To whose advantage was it?"

American sociologistPeter Blauhas used the concept ofcui bonoto differentiate organizations depending on who has primarily benefited: owners; members; specific others; or the general society.

See also

• Cherchez la femme
• Follow the money
• Milgram experiment
• Whodunit

General:

• Brocard (law)
• List of Latin phrases
• List of legal Latin terms