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 1137 of 3781
YEAR 1798 · Entry 1137
French
p. 227323 novembre.
Que les mœurs publiques sont un chemin que les survenans trouvent frayé dans la carrière de la vie; qu’où il n’y a point de mœurs il n’y a point de chemin; que chacun est obligé de s’en faire un il se perd à chercher sa route (il perd son temps à s’égarer).
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1798
p. 2274November 23.
That public morals are a path which newcomers find cleared in the course of life; that where there are no morals there is no path; that each is obliged to make one for himself he loses himself searching for his route (he loses his time going astray).
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1798 · Entry 1137
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.