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 1555 of 3781
YEAR 1800 · Entry 1555
French
p. 310931 janvier.
La matière, dit-on, est divisible à l’infini. Que veut-on dire? Qu’elle est divisible à l’infini en parties visibles? Cela n’est pas vrai, car il faut à chaque partie, pour être visible, de certaines dimensions dont le nombre est assés borné pour notre œil. Entend-on qu’elle est divisible à l’infini en parties imaginables? Cela n’est pas vrai non plus, car il faut à notre esprit, pour imaginer, de certaines figures ou formes qui n’ont point un nombre infini. Veut-on dire qu’elle est divisible à l’infini par le nombre et la quantité de ses parties? arithmétiquement, oui; plutôt mathématiquement, cela se peut penser, mais ne peut pas être réellement. Toute portion, toute partie de matière, quelque petite qu’on veuille la supposer, doit être matière, c’est à dire susceptible de longueur, largeur et profondeur. Par conséquent si la matière étoit divisible à l’infini comme on le prétend, elle pourroit cesser d’être matière en demeurant matière, ce qui est absurde.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1800
p. 3110January 31.
Matter, they say, is infinitely divisible. What do they mean? That it is infinitely divisible into visible parts? That is not true, for each part, to be visible, requires certain dimensions whose number is fairly limited for our eye. Do they mean that it is infinitely divisible into imaginable parts? That is not true either, for our mind, in order to imagine, requires certain figures or forms that are not infinite in number. Do they mean that it is infinitely divisible in the number and quantity of its parts? arithmetically, yes; or rather mathematically, this can be thought, but cannot really be. Every portion, every part of matter, however small one chooses to suppose it, must be matter, that is, capable of length, breadth, and depth. Consequently, if matter were infinitely divisible as is claimed, it could cease to be matter while remaining matter, which is absurd.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1800 · Entry 1555
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.