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 1240 of 3781
YEAR 1799 · Entry 1240
French
p. 247920 février.
Du peu qui produit les grandes douleurs aussi bien que les grands plaisirs, qui tous (pour le dire en passant) ont quelque chose de local.
Que ce qu’il y a de plus atténué et de moins abbondant dans nos humeurs en est la cause, et que ce qu’il y a de moins intense et de moins étendu dans nos solides en est le siège. Le mouvement d’une vapeur, l’ébranlement d’une fibrille produisent ce que les hommes craignent plus que la mort et ce qu’ils aiment plus que la vie.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1799
p. 2480February 20.
Of the little that produces great pains as well as great pleasures, all of which (to say it in passing) have something local about them.
That what is most attenuated and least abundant in our humors is their cause, and what is least intense and least extensive in our solids is their seat. The movement of a vapor, the trembling of a fibril produce what men fear more than death and what they love more than life.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1799 · Entry 1240
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.