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 1567 of 3781
YEAR 1800 · Entry 1567
French
p. 3133[…] février.
Que le monde est un lieu, — et non un dieu, un animal, une machine, etc. Que la 1ʳᵉ idée est simple et la 2ᵈᵉ composée. Le monde est donc un lieu; nous n’y verrons pas autre chose, en lui attribuant par artifice une autre forme que celle qu’il offre à nos yeux et en contrariant en nous la notion que nous avons de sa nature.
Entre deux idées, dont l’une est claire et l’autre obscure, l’une nette, l’autre embrouillée, l’une simple et l’autre composée, laquelle convenez-vous qu’il faut choisir?
Vous appellés scavantes les idées qui exigent du scavoir pour être intelligibles, des efforts et de l’art pour être fabriquées? Mais celles-là sont-elles claires ou obscures, embrouillées ou nettes, sont-elles simples ou composées? Elles sont vraies (me direz-vous). J’en conviendrai pour un moment, mais je dirai : elles sont vraies d’une vérité qui n’existe pas (ou qui du moins ne peut pas exister pour le genre humain puisque de votre propre aveu les scavans seuls peuvent l’appercevoir). Donc elle ne se montre pas. Vous étalez donc à nos yeux des clartés qui nous sont invisibles. Vous nous comblez de biens dont nous ne pouvons pas user.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1800
p. 3134February […].
That the world is a place, — and not a god, an animal, a machine, etc. That the first idea is simple and the second composite. The world, then, is a place; we shall see nothing else in it by artfully attributing to it a form other than the one it offers our eyes, and by opposing within ourselves the notion we have of its nature.
Between two ideas, one clear and the other obscure, one distinct, the other confused, one simple and the other composite, which do you agree one should choose?
You call ideas learned when they require learning to be intelligible, effort and art to be fabricated? But are those clear or obscure, confused or distinct, simple or composite? They are true (you will tell me). I shall concede it for a moment, but I shall say: they are true with a truth that does not exist (or at least cannot exist for the human race, since by your own admission only scholars can perceive it). So it does not show itself. Thus you display before our eyes lights that are invisible to us. You heap upon us goods we cannot use.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1800 · Entry 1567
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.