What are those line numbers for anyway?

(global-set-key [remap goto-line] 'goto-line-with-feedback)

(defun goto-line-with-feedback ()
  "Show line numbers temporarily, while prompting for the line number input"
  (interactive)
  (unwind-protect
      (progn
        (linum-mode 1)
        (goto-line (read-number "Goto line: ")))
    (linum-mode -1)))

I don't have line numbers visible in the fringe of my Emacs. If I want to go to a line number, that is usually because it is referenced in an error message somewhere. Showing them all the time is just noise.

Still, many people want line numbers visible. I guess that is because they use them for navigation. This snippet shows line numbers temporarily just when you're going to a line number with goto-line.

Notice the nice remap-trick in the key binding. It will remap all key bindings from goto-line to goto-line-with-feedback. Neat!