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 952 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 952
French
p. 190313 décembre.
De l’utilité. Pour qu’une chose soit utile à une autre, il faut qu’il y ait entre leurs deux natures une analogie réelle (les rapports du secours et du besoin). Il faut donc que ces deux natures existent. De même, pour qu’une opinion soit utile à l’esprit, il faut que l’objet en existe. (Champs Elisées.)
Alias. Utilité suppose analogie, l’analogie deux rapports, et deux rapports deux existences. Une idée ne peut être utile à l’esprit qu’autant qu’il y a entre la nature de son objet et la nature de l’homme un rapport aussi réel de coexistence qu’il y en a un d’aplication entre l’idée et l’esprit. Il faut faire une observation. L’idée a pour objet les natures et le jugement a pour objets les qualités. C’est ce qui fait qu’il peut y avoir des erreurs vraies si l’on peut ainsi parler, parce qu’on peut avoir une idée saine d’une existence et atribuer à l’être qui en est revêtu... Observons deuxièmement que les rapports que suppose l’utilité sont ceux de secours et de besoin, ou ceux de sensibilité et de plaisir. — N. B. Un être est à une nature ce qu’un individu est à une espèce.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1904December 13.
On utility. For one thing to be useful to another, there must be a real analogy between their two natures (the relations of help and need). These two natures must therefore exist. Likewise, for an opinion to be useful to the mind, its object must exist. (Champs Elisées.)
Alias. Utility presupposes analogy, analogy two relations, and two relations two existences. An idea can be useful to the mind only insofar as there is between the nature of its object and the nature of man a relation of coexistence as real as the relation of application between the idea and the mind. An observation must be made. Ideas have natures as their objects, and judgment has qualities as its objects. This is why there can be true errors, if one may speak so, because one can have a sound idea of an existence and attribute to the being clothed in it... Let us observe, secondly, that the relations presupposed by utility are those of help and need, or those of sensitivity and pleasure. — N.B. A being is to a nature what an individual is to a species.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 952
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.