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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 1796 · Entry 531

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English Page · Branch 531 of 3781

YEAR 1796 · Entry 531

Book Mode

French

p. 1061

17 mars.

« Quand la foi (c’est-à-dire le respect des enfans pour les opinions de leurs pères) aura diminué sur la terre... » — « Quand la servante deviendra mère de sa maîtresse ou de son maître ». C’est-à-dire quand les parens seront devenus comme les serviteurs de leurs filles ou de leurs fils. (Dites : quand le serviteur sera père de sa maîtresse ou de son maître, — ce qui indique la dépravation des femmes.) — « Quand les inconnus seront préf [...] etc., (disent les Turcs) le dernier jour (c’est-à-dire le grand bouleversement) s’aprochera. Pocock Sultiman arabicum.

1061

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1796

p. 1062

March 17.

“When faith (that is, children’s respect for their fathers’ opinions) shall have diminished on earth...” — “When the maidservant becomes the mother of her mistress or her master.” That is, when parents have become like servants to their daughters or their sons. (Say: when the manservant is the father of his mistress or his master—which indicates the depravity of women.) — “When strangers shall be pref [...] etc., (say the Turks) the last day (that is, the great upheaval) will draw near. Pocock Sultiman arabicum.

1062

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.