Cui bono
Cui bono?, in English "to whom is it a benefit?", is a Latin phrase about identifying crime suspects. It expresses the view that crimes are often committed to benefit their perpetrators, especially financially. Which party benefits may not be obvious, and there may be a scapegoat.Usage
The phrase is a double dative construction. It can also be rendered as cui prodest? and ad cuius bonum?.Background
Another example of Cicero using Cui bono is in his defence of Roscius Amerino, in the Pro Roscio Amerino, once again invoking Cassius as the source: "Let that maxim of Cassius apply."
American sociologist Peter Blau has used the concept of cui bono to differentiate organizations by who has primarily benefited: owners; members; specific others; or the general society.
