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.
French Page · Branch 19 of 3781
YEAR 1783 · Entry 19
French
p. 37N. B. Ce qui, dans leurs passions primitives, rend les hommes méchants (dit Jean-Jacques) c’est lorsqu’ils s’occupent plus des obstacles pour les écarter que du but pour y parvenir.
Meubler sa tête d’idées charmantes, et son cœur de sentimens délicieux... (Jean-Jacques justifié par Rousseau.)
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1783
p. 38No individual date printed
N. B. What makes men wicked in their primitive passions (says Jean-Jacques) is when they concern themselves more with removing the obstacles than with reaching the goal.
To furnish one’s head with charming ideas, and one’s heart with delicious feelings... (Jean-Jacques justified by Rousseau.)
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1783 · Entry 19
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.