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 1710 of 3781
[On movement.] · Entry 1710
French
p. 3419Dans les eaux, dans nos yeux, dans nos miroirs. On dit d’un objet qu’ « il s’y peint ». Suivre cette idée. Que la vision se fait par les couleurs.
Nos yeux, les eaux et les miroirs sont des toiles à portraits où les objets se représentent fidèlement par les couleurs qu’ils y envoyent; et non seulement les traits des objets y sont représentés, mais aussi leur mobilité en action.
Que dans les arts, non seulement la peinture, mais aussi le simple dessin, n’existe que par les couleurs, ainsi que l’écriture. Rien ne peut être séparé et distinct à nos yeux que par deux ou plusieurs couleurs.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On movement.]
p. 3420In waters, in our eyes, in our mirrors. We say of an object that “it paints itself there.” Follow this idea. That vision takes place through colors.
Our eyes, waters, and mirrors are portrait canvases on which objects faithfully represent themselves through the colors they send there; and not only are the objects’ features represented there, but also their mobility in action.
That in the arts, not only painting, but even simple drawing exists only through colors, as does writing. Nothing can be separate and distinct to our eyes except through two or more colors.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On movement.] · Entry 1710
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.