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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Facing Pages · Branch 1034 of 3781
YEAR 1798 · Entry 1034
French
p. 2067Du 23 au 24 juillet.
...Peut être en effet se réduit-elle à la faculté de nous représenter une autre vie, un autre monde, une éternité d’existences, des peines et des récompenses dont le ciel nous donne idée afin d’amuser par cette illusion des maux réels. Mais en ce cas même, ne pas croire c’est résister à la nature, désobéir à ses décrets éternels, se priver du soulagement qu’il a voulu qui fût le nôtre.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1798
p. 2068From July 23 to 24.
...Perhaps indeed it amounts to the faculty of representing to ourselves another life, another world, an eternity of existences, punishments and rewards of which heaven gives us an idea in order to distract us through this illusion from real ills. But even in this case, not to believe is to resist nature, disobey its eternal decrees, deprive oneself of the relief he wished to be ours.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1798 · Entry 1034
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.