Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
Facing Pages · Branch 150 of 3781
YEAR 1787 · Entry 150
French
p. 299A Saint Sulpice
Je n’ai pas vu de morceau de sculpture qui remplit aussi bien sa destination. C’est même le seul exemple où j’aie vu parmi nous les statues avoir un objet déterminé et produire un effet public. Un ange d’airain se tient debout devant le prêtre assis, et les ïeux baissés avec respect étale à ses ïeux le livre où sont les cantiques. Ah ! combien croïés-vous que l’impression d’une semblable représentation abbaisse l’homme et élève le prêtre C’est dans de pareils temples que l’homme est religieux et qu’il devient esclave ; c’est devant de tels autels qu’il s’instruit à la servitude. Car tout sentiment religieux est un sentiment servile et quiquonque s’agenouille devant Dieu se façonne à se prosterner devant un roi.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1787
p. 300No individual date printed
At Saint Sulpice
I have seen no piece of sculpture that fulfilled its purpose so well. It is indeed the only example in which I have seen, among us, statues have a definite object and produce a public effect. An angel of bronze stands before the seated priest and, with eyes respectfully lowered, spreads before the priest’s eyes the book containing the canticles. Ah! How much do you think the impression of such a representation lowers man and raises the priest! It is in such temples that man is religious and becomes a slave; it is before such altars that he learns servitude. For every religious feeling is a servile feeling, and whoever kneels before God trains himself to prostrate himself before a king.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1787 · Entry 150
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.