--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Linnaeus's last lesson, of which he…" description: "\"“Linnaeus's last lesson, of which he himself was unaware, was that professorships kill philosophers. Oh, I'm vain enough to want my burgeoning Flora Ja..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/david-mitchell-264_marinus_linnaeus-s-last-lesson-of-which-he-himse_212608.jpg" --- # Linnaeus's last lesson, of which he himself was unaware… ![“Linnaeus's last lesson, of which he himself was unaware, was that professorships kill philosophers. Oh, I'm vain enough to want my burgeoning Flora Japonica to be published one day--as a votive offering to human knowledge--but a seat at Uppsala, or Leiden, or Cambridge, holds no allure. My heart…” quote by David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/david-mitchell-264_marinus_linnaeus-s-last-lesson-of-which-he-himse_212608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/david-mitchell-264_marinus_linnaeus-s-last-lesson-of-which-he-himse_212608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ff/david-mitchell-264_marinus_linnaeus-s-last-lesson-of-which-he-himse_212608.jpg) > ““Linnaeus's last lesson, of which he himself was unaware, was that professorships kill philosophers. Oh, I'm vain enough to want my burgeoning Flora Japonica to be published one day--as a votive offering to human knowledge--but a seat at Uppsala, or Leiden, or Cambridge, holds no allure. My heart is the East's in this lifetime. This is my third year in Nagasaki, and I have work enough for another three, or six. During the court embassy I can see landscapes no European botanist ever saw. My seminarians are keen young men--with one young woman--and visiting scholars bring me specimens from all over the empire.”” [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Academic prestige can stifle true curiosity; genuine passion lies beyond institutional titles. **In simple terms:** Titles can limit curiosity. Key Takeaway Prioritize curiosity over status. Themes knowledge freedom passion Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - research in remote regions - teaching - publishing - personal fulfillment Key Concepts philosophy botany colonialism Questions to Reflect On - What would you sacrifice for pure curiosity? - How can you balance institutional roles with personal passion? A Different Perspective Institutional support may still be necessary for resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Linnaeus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linnaeus/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [I have rarely read anything which has interested me more, though I have not read as yet more than a quarter of the book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/i-have-rarely-read-anything-which-has-interested-me-more-though-i/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Linnaeus and Cuvier have been my two gods, though in very different ways, but they were mere schoolboys to old Aristotle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/linnaeus-and-cuvier-have-been-my-two-gods-though-in-very-different/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [The interpretations of science do not give us this intimate sense of objects as the interpretations of poetry give it; they appeal to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/the-interpretations-of-science-do-not-give-us-this-intimate-sense-of/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [“While we’re at it, why don’t we add a third emotion to this list: lust. 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A merry activity?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/writing-poetry-s-i-looked-around-the-solarium-but-madame-crommelynck/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) [Explore all 748 David Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) ## More Linnaeus quotes > [Linnaeus had it constantly in mind:'The closer we get to know the creatures around us, the clearer is the understanding we obtain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sten-lindroth/linnaeus-had-it-constantly-in-mind-the-closer-we-get-to-know-the/) Sten Lindroth > [“Weed, are you familiar with the work of Carl Linnaeus? His Systema Naturae describes a classification system for all growing things.” Weed’s eyes dart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryrose-wood/weed-are-you-familiar-with-the-work-of-carl-linnaeus-his-systema/) [Maryrose Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryrose-wood/) > [The air of caricature never fails to show itself in the products of reason applied relentlessly and without correction. 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