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 34 of 3781
YEAR 1783 · Entry 34
French
p. 67Nota. Une fille qui se montre nuë aux ïeux de son amant ne blesse pourtant en cela la pudeur publique. 1° un effet infaillible du secret et du mistère est dans ce cas d’inspirer de la retenue même à l’imagination de son amant, si son amant a le cœur délicat. 2° il ne se dira ni dans ce moment, ni dans les momens qui suivront : « c’est ainsi que les autres sont faites ». ce seroit, en quelque sorte, donner des témoins à des plaisirs dont la solitude augmente le prix, se distraire d’une volupté qui exige le recueillement, et trahir la confiance de sa maîtresse en la traduisant ainsi dans son esprit devant tout son sexe. etc.
(Toutes ces réflexions ont besoin d’être mieux digérées et mieux écrites.)
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1783
p. 68No individual date printed
Note. A young woman who shows herself naked to her lover does not thereby offend public modesty. 1. An unfailing effect of secrecy and mystery in this case is to inspire restraint even in her lover’s imagination, if her lover has a delicate heart. 2. He will not say to himself, either at that moment or in the moments that follow: “This is how the others are made.” That would be, in a way, to give witnesses to pleasures whose value solitude increases, to distract oneself from a sensual delight that demands inward concentration, and to betray his mistress’s trust by thus bringing her before her whole sex in his mind. Etc.
(All these reflections need to be better digested and better written.)
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1783 · Entry 34
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.