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 1183 of 3781
YEAR 1798 · Entry 1183
French
p. 236527 décembre.
Les premières loix n’ont été que les premières pratiques rendues immuables par l’injonction de l’authorité publique. Les premiers législateurs ne firent que réduire en réglemens ou ordonnances ce qu’ils avoient vu établi chez eux ou ailleurs, comme Licurgue réduisit en loix à Sparte ce qui étoit pratiqué en Crète. Toutes ces législations si fameuses ne coutèrent à ceux dont elles portent les noms que la peine et le soin de choisir, de corriger, d’accommoder, de rédiger. Tout ce qui devint loi, en un mot, avoit d’abord été coutume; et l’histoire de notre droit coutumier fut celle du droit de tous les peuples. Les loix de Solon se firent comme la coutume de Sens.
Les loix ainsi faites ne sont pas les pires, ni l’esprit de choisir, d’accommoder, de corriger, de rédiger avec perfection n’est pas le moindre.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1798
p. 2366December 27.
The first laws were only the first practices made unchangeable by the injunction of public authority. The first legislators did no more than reduce to regulations or ordinances what they had seen established at home or elsewhere, as Lycurgus reduced to laws at Sparta what was practiced in Crete. All these so-famous legislations cost those whose names they bear only the trouble and care of choosing, correcting, adapting, drafting. Everything that became law, in a word, had first been custom; and the history of our customary law was that of the law of all peoples. Solon’s laws were made as the custom of Sens was.
Laws made in this way are not the worst, nor is the mind that chooses, adapts, corrects, and drafts with perfection the least.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1798 · Entry 1183
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
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.