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 1161 of 3781
YEAR 1798 · Entry 1161
French
p. 2321Dimanche 9 décembre.
Mon ancien mot « une feuille qui tombe remuë le monde ». Et les mouvemens qui se font en nous, quoi qu’ils soient grands, quoi qu’ils soient forts, ne nous remuent pas toujours nous-mêmes. De même qu’il y a dans l’économie animale des vaisseaux qui sont absorbans, de même il pourroit y avoir dans la nature des moyens inconnus de dégorgement, des réservoirs, des réceptacles d’absorption, de cohobition, d’anéantissement.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1798
p. 2322Sunday, December 9.
My old saying, “a leaf that falls moves the world.” And the movements that take place in us, though great, though strong, do not always move us ourselves. Just as in the animal economy there are vessels that absorb, so there might be in nature unknown means of discharge, reservoirs, receptacles of absorption, of cohobition, of annihilation.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1798 · Entry 1161
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.