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 1825 of 3781
[On movement.] · Entry 1825
French
p. 3649La métaphysique est à la morale ce que les mathématiques sont à la méchanique, ce que la physique est à la médecine, ce que la chymie est à la pharmacie. Elle doit fournir des motifs par ses clartés, comme les autres par leurs théories doivent nous fournir des machines, des mélanges, des procédés. Malheureusement on ne l’a employée jusqu’ici qu’au service de sa servante; c’est-à-dire à perfectionner le langage de la logique, à peu près comme un grammairien ne scait trouver dans les beaux vers de la plus haute poésie que des règles et des exemples de constructions.
(Comm. 14, achev. 23 juillet.)
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On movement.]
p. 3650Metaphysics is to morals what mathematics is to mechanics, what physics is to medicine, what chemistry is to pharmacy. It must furnish motives through its illuminations, as the others through their theories must furnish us with machines, mixtures, procedures. Unfortunately, until now it has been employed only in the service of its serving maid; that is, in perfecting the language of logic, much as a grammarian can find in the beautiful lines of the highest poetry only rules and examples of constructions.
(Begun July 14, finished July 23.)
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On movement.] · Entry 1825
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.