Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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English Page · Branch 1171 of 3781
YEAR 1798 · Entry 1171
French
p. 2341C’est avec ce qu’il y a au monde de plus menu, de plus mince, de moins spacieux dans ce que fait la main de l’homme, c’est avec le point, avec la ligne, avec des lettres que s’opère dans le monde ce qu’il y a de plus grand, de plus fort, de plus durable, de plus irrésistible. C’est par là aussi que se conçoit, au moyen de quelques figures, ce qu’il y a dans les connoissances humaines de plus ardu et de plus incontestable.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1798
p. 2342It is with what is smallest in the world, thinnest, least spacious in what the hand of man makes, it is with the point, with the line, with letters, that what is greatest, strongest, most durable, most irresistible in the world is accomplished. It is also through these, by means of a few figures, that what is most difficult and most incontestable in human knowledge is conceived.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1798 · Entry 1171
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Joubert’s notebooks return to the work of thinking and writing, the demands of friendship, and questions of faith, beauty and conduct. This edition pairs the French with a new English translation, preserving the order of the chosen source and the unfinished character of its fragments. Dates and source references allow readers to follow a thought through time or return to its printed context.
Historical Text and Translation
The French text follows André Beaunier’s 1938 edition of Les Carnets de Joseph Joubert, published by Gallimard from Joubert’s autograph manuscripts. Volume I presents the entries on printed pages 32–475. French and English are aligned paragraph by paragraph, retaining the source order, printed dates and page references so readers can return to the facsimile.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared this new English translation directly from the French, preserving Joubert’s distinctions, recurring images, ambiguities and unfinished thoughts. Translator’s notes clarify wording, references and uncertain readings: Essential keeps notes that help explain a passage, while All includes technical detail. Annotations from the 1938 source edition remain distinct from the new translator’s notes.
Rights
The linked facsimile records identify the French source as public domain in the United States. The new English translation and editorial notes are © 2026 Diotimos, with source annotations and new editorial contributions credited separately. This edition pairs the complete French notebooks with an independent English translation, preserving the distinction between Joubert’s text and its accompanying notes.