HABITS OF LIFE 
303 
and sought to deduce his science from its Author, and 
had inscribed over the door of his bed-chamber, 
“ Innocue vivito\ Numen adest ” [Live innocently; 
God is here ”]. 
Such is the character which Linne has left of 
himself. As no one can be regarded as a competent 
judge in his own case, it will be well to adduce the 
testimony of others. 
As to his merry and glad disposition, all accounts 
agree that he delighted to see happy faces round him. 
“ In society he was cheerful and gay and would 
gladly listen to anecdotes with enjoyment,” says his 
pupil Hedin, and Acrel adds, “ In youth he was 
frolicsome, in middle age ever mirthful, quick and 
ready in words, and in jolly society shared laughter 
with the others, which lasted to his latest year.” He 
did not talk much, but enjoyed hearing others talk, 
and sometimes struck in with special short interesting 
remarks. Weary of work, he felt the need of refresh¬ 
ing laughter, and therefore amongst his pupils, 
Tidstrom was a favourite, whom he had as a guest 
at Hammarby at Christmas, “ simply to laugh and be 
free from care.” He particularly wished young 
people to enjoy themselves, and it is related that 
when the newly appointed Archbishop Mennander 
forbade the accustomed dance assemblies, the young 
girls of Uppsala got the old Linne to obtain 
permission for their retention. 
He quickly flamed up, but soon abated his anger, 
and it was well known among his friends and pupils, 
that he was entirely free from rancour. His habit 
was never to delay anything which ought to be done, 
and to note down his thoughts at once, on paper in 
pithy expressions, which needed to be somewhat 
pruned. This appears evident, that judgments on 
the same person or event sometimes were recorded in 
a short time from each other, as not unimportantly 
diverse. As soon as the roused feelings had subsided, 
a calm ensued, and he expressed in a letter written 
