THE SWEDISH NATION AL.CHARACTER 



35 



upon the word of a Swede and his word of honour is often more sacred than 

 an oath. Many of our proverbs have reference to just this inherent sense of ho 

 nour and faithfulness to one's word. Foreigners not seldom, lay stress upon 

 this. The Swedish spirit always strives after justice. It is this which, at one 

 and the same time, constitutes its strength and causes its lack of warmth*. (Andre 

 Bellesort). 



One cannot think of any land, where equity of law, exists in so high a 

 degree*, says the same author. The Swedes' obedience to the law and their 

 special sense of duty, make them very welcome every where.* (Heidenstam). 



Another manifestation of the same humanity is the Swedes' pronounced re 

 luctance to dogmatics of every kind. Moral justice in Sweden has more weight 

 than legal justice has. 



The aristocratic trait is strongly developed in Sweden, both in a good and 

 bad sense. One of the strangest forms it takes is the Swede's dislike to defend 

 himself against agression. It is not considered good form* to defend oneself*. 

 (Sundbarg). Selfish advocacy of a thing is, as a rule, judged very severely. 



The power of organization possessed by the Swedes, is another unquestio* 

 nable element in their character. This appears throughout all Swedish history 

 and is seen in the activity of the guilds and other corporations that have always 

 existed. The ancient statue, By law shall the land de built*, is no empty 

 word. It expresses itself in every direction and in many ways. Everywhere the 

 Swede will set in order, straighten up, and put things tidy. He cannot thrive 

 amid disorder. Even in detail he likes to catalogue and label everything that comes 

 to his hand. One only needs to mention such names as Carl von Linne (Lin 

 naeus), Berzelius, Hazelius, and many, many others, who have set to work brin 

 ging order in several directions. A place for everything, and everything in its 

 place*, is a Swedish proverb which the Swedes literally obey. When one has 

 lived in Sweden, every other land one afterwards may visit, strikes one as being 

 disorderly and dirty.* (Professor Rene Bellanger). It can probably be said, that, 

 in no other land does associated life blossom so freely as it does in Sweden. 

 This holds true respecting sport, temperance societies, the promoting of lee* 

 tures, etc. 



The Swedes' gift of equipoise, no matter what position in society his work 

 gives him, stands in connection with this. He can fill his place as a leader 

 without domineering, and he can fill a subordinate place without cringing. He 

 is a pattern, both as master and man. Swedes, with some Finnish blood are, as 

 a rule, more defiant and less submissive to discipline. 



As the born organizer and leader, the Swede is active in disposition. He 

 loves to throw himself into a new enterprise, to think out new plans, to change his 

 business and place of living, to look around him and utilize all the possibilities in 

 other places and in foreign lands.* (Are Waerland). The temper of the Vikings 

 is still to be found, even today, with many Swedes. They love adventure for 

 its own sake. When carrying out a new enterprise, the Swede at first is very 

 enthusiastic, but he is lacking in perseverance and energy; he is often tired 

 when the thing is half done. That is why so much is only half done here in 

 Sweden*. (Tegner). His capacity for action cannot confine itself to one direction, 



