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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §46.5.11.pr

Advantage of a Fixed Sum in Indefinite Stipulations

Passage 7798 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The author argues that in stipulations promising an indefinite value, it is more convenient to specify a fixed sum, as proving the exact value of one's interest is difficult and often leads to a reduction to a negligible amount.

[UENULEIUS libro octauo actionum. ] §46.5.11.prIn eiusmodi stipulationibus, quae 'quanti ea res est' promissionem habent, commodius est certam summam comprehendere, quoniam plerumque difficilis probatio est, quanti cuiusque intersit, et ad exiguam summam deducitur.
[VENULEIUS, Actions, Book VIII] In stipulations of this kind, which contain a promise of 'whatever the value of the matter is', it is more convenient to include a specific sum, since the proof of how much is at stake for each person is generally difficult, and it is reduced to a small sum.

Notes

  1. §46.5.11.prquanti cuiusque intersit — A construction of the impersonal verb "interest". "cuiusque" (the genitive of "quisque") denotes the person concerned, and "quanti" (a genitive of value) expresses the degree of interest. It forms an indirect question clause explaining the substance of the "difficilis probatio" (difficult proof).
  2. §46.5.11.prdeducitur — Passive third-person singular. The implied subject is the "amount of interest" or "claim" to be proven, meaning that as a consequence of the difficulty of proof, it is reduced (by the judge or in the claim) to a very small sum.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §46.5.11.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:46.5.11.pr

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