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Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume IYEAR 1794 · Entry 380

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English Page · Branch 380 of 3781

YEAR 1794 · Entry 380

Book Mode

French

p. 759

Le 14, lundi.

La mère s’est levée. Sa maigreur est bien grande. L’enfant se nourrissoit de sa substance tout le temps qu’elle l’a porté.

Il a, ce jour là, ouvert les yeux plus et plus longtemps qu’à l’ordinaire. Il a même semblé vouloir sourire lorsque sa tante l’agaçoit.

759

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1794

p. 760

The 14th, Monday.

The mother got up. She is very thin indeed. The child was feeding on her substance the whole time she carried him.

That day he opened his eyes more, and for longer than usual. He even seemed to want to smile when his aunt teased him.

760

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.