Canon PowerShot SD870 IS
ƒ/2.8
4.6 mm
1/250
80

Seemed lost in translation, but really important.

14 responses to “Homo sapiens non urinat in ventum”

  1. That is funny! I don’t remember seeing it when I was there.


    Seen in my contacts’ photos. (?)

  2. The wise is the simple.

  3. … if you are a wise person (homo sapiens)

  4. It’s just like "Don’t spit to the sky"… I knew that wisdom by that phrase I admit.

  5. I too have been surprised by this inscription.
    I don’t really understand what it’s doing there…

    homo sapiens non urinat in ventum

  6. Hi, I’m an admin for a group called De Balie, Amsterdam (group), and we’d love to have this added to the group!

  7. wise people do not piss against the wind 🙂
    it’s very windy in that area.

  8. I once heard that the architect put it on there because he was explicitly requested to add a latin quote by the building comittee (against his better judgement).

  9. I don’t know where they got this ‘quotation’ from, but it’s certainly not from any true Latin source. There is no verb ‘urinare’ meaning to pee. Th word for that is ‘micturire’ There is a noun ‘Urinator’ but that means – and ONLY means- ‘diver’. And the only Latin word for ‘diver’ ir ‘urinator’.

  10. True, but the word "urina" does mean urine, though.

  11. @jermeerkat

    So maybe they meant, a wise man does not dive againste the wind. 🙂

Leave a Reply to jermeerkat Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *