Cui bono: Difference between revisions

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{{tag|Latin}} for “who benefits?”<ref>I am resisting mightily the overwhelming urge to make a lame joke about the first time the guitarist met the singer from U2.</ref>. When you’re not sure about a negotiation position, ask yourself this — but remember that whoever it is, it isn’t you.
{{a|latin|}}[[Cui bono]] is [[Latin]] for “who benefits?”<ref>I am resisting mightily the overwhelming urge to make a lame joke about the first time the guitarist met the singer from U2.</ref>. When you’re not sure about a negotiation position, ask yourself this — but remember that, since you are having to ask, whoever ''is'' benefitting, most likely it isn’t you.


And when you come to send that [[email]], to-all, perhaps where you say thanks — or, God forfend, [[thx]] — for a colleague’s reply to the most arcane topic, and as your finger hovers over the “send” button, take a moment to scan the distribution list and ask yourself, [[cui bono]]? Does the cc line stretch to the horizon? Will these people care? Do they need to know? Will their professional day be, somehow, enriched?
And when you come to send that [[email]], to-all, perhaps where you say thanks — or, God forfend, [[thx]] — for a colleague’s reply to the most arcane topic, and as your finger hovers over the “send” button, take a moment to scan the distribution list and ask yourself, [[cui bono]]? Does the cc: line stretch to the horizon? Will these people care? Do they need to know? Will their professional day be, somehow, enriched?


If not — even if you’re not quite sure — strike them from the list and smile, for the answer to your question now — ''[[cui bono]]?'' — is ''we all will''.
If not — even if you’re not quite sure — strike them from the list and smile, for the answer to your question now — ''[[cui bono]]?'' — is ''we all will''.


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*[[Reliance on legal advice]]


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{{c|Negotiation}}

Latest revision as of 13:30, 14 August 2024

The JC’s guide to pithy Latin adages
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Cui bono is Latin for “who benefits?”[1]. When you’re not sure about a negotiation position, ask yourself this — but remember that, since you are having to ask, whoever is benefitting, most likely it isn’t you.

And when you come to send that email, to-all, perhaps where you say thanks — or, God forfend, thx — for a colleague’s reply to the most arcane topic, and as your finger hovers over the “send” button, take a moment to scan the distribution list and ask yourself, cui bono? Does the cc: line stretch to the horizon? Will these people care? Do they need to know? Will their professional day be, somehow, enriched?

If not — even if you’re not quite sure — strike them from the list and smile, for the answer to your question now — cui bono? — is we all will.

See also

References

  1. I am resisting mightily the overwhelming urge to make a lame joke about the first time the guitarist met the singer from U2.