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 1877 of 3781
[On Locke] · Entry 1877
French
p. 3753Nous n’avons l’idée (ou apréhension) innée d’une certaine essence ou nature que nous ne pouvons voir (celle de l’esprit), nous n’avons de sens ou de sentiment inné que d’une certaine règle d’harmonie et d’ordre moral (celle du juste et de l’injuste). La manière dont cette essence ou nature existe et la croyance même de son existence, la manière dont ce principe ou règle doivent être apliqués et les règles particulières qui en dérivent sont des opérations de notre esprit susceptibles d’une infinité de variations et même de contradictions. Il en est de ce dernier point comme de la musique. Nous avons tous l’instinct de l’harmonie; mais nous n’en avons pas tous le scavoir etc. etc. C’est tout ce que je puis voir de plus clair sur ce sujet en ce moment.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Locke]
p. 3754We do not have the innate idea (or apprehension) of a certain essence or nature that we cannot see (that of spirit), we have an innate sense or feeling only of a certain rule of harmony and moral order (that of the just and unjust). The way this essence or nature exists and the very belief in its existence, the way this principle or rule should be applied and the particular rules that derive from it, are operations of our mind susceptible to infinite variations and even contradictions. This last point is like music. We all have the instinct for harmony; but we do not all have knowledge of it etc. etc. This is all I can see most clearly on this subject at this moment.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Locke] · Entry 1877
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.