Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
English Page · Branch 1878 of 3781
[On Locke] · Entry 1878
French
p. 37557 août.
(Moi.) 1. S’il y a ou s’il n’y a pas des idées que l’on peut appeller innées est une question qui tient essentiellement à la science, à la connoissance de l’âme; et non pas simplement une question d’école.
2. Si, lorsque la proposition en frappe l’oreille, l’idée d’une chose qui n’a jamais frappé les sens naît aussitôt dans notre esprit, y éclôt et s’y développe, on peut croire, on peut dire, on doit penser que c’est là une idée innée ou dont le germe étoit en nous, à peu près comme on suppose que le feu est dans les veines du caillou. Dieu existe, N est juste, etc.
3. Ces idées, ou notions, ou sentimens innés ne sont point indestructibles en nous. Ils peuvent au contraire être très aisément défigurés, dénaturés, altérés, déplacés, etc. (Quoique éternel, tout cela est mobile et se chasse aisément) comme tout ce qui est germe.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Locke]
p. 3756August 7.
(Myself.) 1. Whether there are or are not ideas that may be called innate is a question essentially bound up with the science, the knowledge of the soul; not simply a question of the schools.
2. If, when the proposition strikes the ear, the idea of a thing that has never struck the senses is born at once in our mind, hatches and develops there, one may believe, one may say, one must think that this is an innate idea, or one whose germ was in us, much as one supposes fire to be in the veins of the pebble. God exists, N is just, etc.
3. These innate ideas, or notions, or feelings are not indestructible in us. On the contrary, they can very easily be disfigured, denatured, altered, displaced, etc. (Though eternal, all this is mobile and easily driven out), like everything that is a germ.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Locke] · Entry 1878
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.