Legal Definitions - quaestus

Quaestus is a Latin term that historically referred to two main concepts:

• Primarily, it denoted profit, especially gains derived from business activities or ventures.
• Secondly, it referred to an acquisition or purchase, particularly of property. In this context, it specifically distinguished property obtained through a transaction from property received by inheritance (known as hereditas).

Here are some examples illustrating the application of quaestus:

• Imagine a local artisan who handcrafts custom furniture. After selling a dining table and deducting the costs for wood, tools, workshop rent, and their labor, the remaining money represents the artisan's quaestus from that sale. This illustrates the term's meaning as profit generated from a business endeavor.

• Consider a young professional who saves diligently and eventually buys their first condominium. This condominium would be considered quaestus because it was acquired through a direct purchase. This distinguishes it from, for example, a family home they might inherit from their parents, which would fall under the concept of hereditas.

• Suppose a group of investors funds a new renewable energy project. If the project successfully generates and sells electricity, leading to a return on their initial investment that exceeds their expenses, the financial gain they realize is their quaestus. This demonstrates the term's application to profit from a collective venture or investment.