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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French Page · Branch 1495 of 3781
YEAR 1799 · Entry 1495
French
p. 2989Ils ont trop voulu mêler la religion avec la vie et trop le culte avec les occupations journalières de la société. Pour trop en avoir occupé les yeux, les oreilles et tous les sens, ils en ont rassasié les esprits. Pour trop avoir prodigué les cérémonies et les solennités, ils en ont fait désirer l’absence. La multitude des prières a lassé de la piété. L’ambition les a perdus.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1799
p. 2990They have wished too much to mingle religion with life, and worship too much with the daily occupations of society. By occupying the eyes, the ears, and all the senses too much with it, they have sated minds with it. By lavishing ceremonies and solemnities too freely, they have made people long for their absence. The multitude of prayers has wearied people of piety. Ambition has undone them.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1799 · Entry 1495
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.