http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2008/10/27/why-cant-us/ The opinion blog of The Daily Pennsylvanian Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:05:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/2008/10/27/why-cant-us/#comment-5088 Eric the old retired blogger Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:24:43 +0000 http://lamp.dailypennsylvanian.com/thespin/?p=2776#comment-5088 Sorry Susan- small factual correction (and this is where my idiotic treasure trove of useless facts comes into play). 1. You missed the 'e' at the end of vanae. 2. Sine Moribus Vanae can indeed be translated as Loose Women Without Morals. This was, however, pointed out in 1898, and a horrified university establishment quickly changed the motto to 'Literae sine Moribus vanae', or 'letters without morals are useless'. You can see this motto on many buildings on camus including the Quad, and Hayden Hall. In 1932, however, the university overhauled all aspects of the seal, crest and motto of the university. Literae Sine Moribue vanae was said to multilate Horace (which it does) and so, true to the original sayings of Horace, the motto was changed to its wonderful present day form, which I like very much indeed. I like to think it applies to everyone in a 'only do things with good intentions and think seriously about the consequences of your actions' sort of way. But that makes a crappy motto. Wow, I'm SUCH a geek. Sorry Susan- small factual correction (and this is where my idiotic treasure trove of useless facts comes into play). 1. You missed the ‘e’ at the end of vanae.
2. Sine Moribus Vanae can indeed be translated as Loose Women Without Morals. This was, however, pointed out in 1898, and a horrified university establishment quickly changed the motto to ‘Literae sine Moribus vanae’, or ‘letters without morals are useless’. You can see this motto on many buildings on camus including the Quad, and Hayden Hall. In 1932, however, the university overhauled all aspects of the seal, crest and motto of the university. Literae Sine Moribue vanae was said to multilate Horace (which it does) and so, true to the original sayings of Horace, the motto was changed to its wonderful present day form, which I like very much indeed. I like to think it applies to everyone in a ‘only do things with good intentions and think seriously about the consequences of your actions’ sort of way. But that makes a crappy motto.
Wow, I’m SUCH a geek.

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