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 1396 of 3781
YEAR 1799 · Entry 1396
French
p. 279115 septembre.
Vérités. Leur subordination, (ou subbordonnement, subbordonnance). Qu’il y a des vérités qui annulent d’autres vérités ou qui du moins en annulent l’utilité. Qu’il faut toujours examiner si une vérité est dépendante.
Que le nom de vérité ne doit être donné qu’à ce qui regarde les natures, les essences, les existences par excellence; que tous le reste ne mérite que le nom de fait.
Il faut respecter les religions, est une vérité. Telle religion est vraie ou fausse, n’est qu’un fait.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1799
p. 2792September 15.
Truths. Their subordination, (or subordinatement, subordinance). That there are truths that annul other truths, or at least annul their usefulness. That one must always examine whether a truth is dependent.
That the name truth should be given only to what concerns natures, essences, existences par excellence; that all the rest deserves only the name fact.
One must respect religions, is a truth. Such-and-such a religion is true or false, is only a fact.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1799 · Entry 1396
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.