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 2031 of 3781
TRAVEL · Entry 2031
French
p. 40615 novembre.
Les sourds et muets de naissance entendent par les pieds et ont, pour ainsi parler des oreilles aux talons. C’est à dire que la plante de leurs pieds est douée d’une telle sensibilité que le moindre bruit qui se fait par le frappement à la surface du sol sur lequel ils sont placés leur est facilement transmis par la commotion.
Nota. Le sourd qui étoit en peine de scavoir s’il rescusciteroit avec l’ouïe.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: TRAVEL
p. 4062November 5.
Those deaf and mute from birth hear through their feet and have, so to speak, ears in their heels. That is, the soles of their feet are endowed with such sensitivity that the slightest noise made by striking the surface of the ground on which they stand is easily transmitted to them through the concussion.
Note. The deaf man who was anxious to know whether he would rise again with hearing.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · TRAVEL · Entry 2031
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.