Alexander Quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero
“Lucius Cassius ille quem populus Romanus verissimum et sapientissimum iudicem putabat identidem in causis quaerere solebat 'cui bono' fuisset. The famous Lucius Cassius, whom the Roman people used to regard as a very honest and wise judge, was in the habit of asking, time and again, 'To whose benefit?”
About This Quote
The quote highlights the principle of examining who benefits from an action to uncover true motives and assess fairness.
In simple terms: Assess motives by asking who benefits.
Identify hidden interests.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- legal deliberations
- policy evaluation
- organizational decision‑making
- media criticism
- personal conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- policy analysis
- ethical auditing
Questions to Reflect On
- Who might be advantaged by this decision?
- How does benefit‑bias affect fairness?