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 1514 of 3781
YEAR 1799 · Entry 1514
French
p. 3027Représenter la puissance du soleil par un Hercule, dont la massue, emblème de la force de ses rayons, assomme l’éclat de diverses constellations à qui on donne des figures d’animaux, etc., ce n’est là qu’une monstrueuse invention où tout est déplaisant et démesuré. Le genre humain fit bien quand, de ce soleil emblématique, il fit un homme et, de ses travaux allégoriques, une histoire et des aventures terrestres. Il réduisit ainsi à leurs justes proportions ces inventions énormes, informes. Il changea en un roman agréable (et utile) ce qui n’étoit qu’une fable extravagante. Tout ce qui s’altère dans les traditions ne se corrompt pas pour cela. Au contraire. [...]
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1799
p. 3028To represent the power of the sun by a Hercules whose club, emblem of the force of its rays, batters down the brilliance of various constellations given the shapes of animals, etc.—that is only a monstrous invention in which everything is displeasing and out of measure. The human race did well when it made a man of this emblematic sun, and a story and earthly adventures of his allegorical labors. It thus reduced these enormous, shapeless inventions to their proper proportions. It changed what was only an extravagant fable into an agreeable (and useful) romance. Not everything that changes in traditions is thereby corrupted. On the contrary. [...]
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1799 · Entry 1514
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.