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 1400 of 3781
YEAR 1799 · Entry 1400
French
p. 279926 septembre.
L’illusion est dans le monde ce que la métaphore est dans nos discours. Nous ne voyons, nous ne sentons, nous ne croyons qu’à l’aide de quelque apparence qui montre une réalité. « Il leur parloit en paraboles, » et c’est ainsi que Dieu agit. Ne le disions-nous pas que c’étoit là le grand poète?
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1799
p. 2800September 26.
Illusion is in the world what metaphor is in our speech. We see, we feel, we believe only with the help of some appearance that shows a reality. “He spoke to them in parables,” and this is how God acts. Did we not say that here was the great poet?
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1799 · Entry 1400
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.