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 1277 of 3781
YEAR 1799 · Entry 1277
French
p. 2553Je suis las de ces livres où il n’est jamais question ou parlé que de la matière. On diroit que les sciences ne sont étudiées et traitées que par des exploiteurs de mines, des maçons, des charpentiers, des tisserans, des arpenteurs ou des banquiers. Je ne scais si cette manière de s’instruire et d’instruire les autres est favorable à la prospérité des arts, mais à coup sûr elle est funeste à l’élévation de l’esprit et pernicieuse aux cœurs, aux mœurs, etc.
La nature nous a-t’elle donc donné un groin pour fouiller la terre, ou des mains pour l’ensemencer? Semer et recueillir, voilà ce qu’il y a d’essentiel dans les rapports entre ce globe et nous.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1799
p. 2554I am weary of these books in which nothing but matter is ever at issue or spoken of. One would think the sciences were studied and treated only by mine operators, masons, carpenters, weavers, surveyors, or bankers. I do not know whether this manner of instructing oneself and others favors the prosperity of the arts, but it is certainly fatal to the elevation of the mind and pernicious to hearts, to morals, etc.
Has nature, then, given us a snout to grub in the earth, or hands to sow it? Sowing and gathering: that is what is essential in the relations between this globe and ourselves.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1799 · Entry 1277
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.