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 1570 of 3781
YEAR 1800 · Entry 1570
French
p. 3139Nous connoissons beaucoup de choses avec la précision qui suffit pour que l’esprit soit satisfait; mais aucune peut-être avec l’exactitude dont chaque chose est susceptible. Aussi en ce genre une certaine imperfection nous plaît, comme une certaine perfection.
Vérité. Nous pouvons y toucher, mais non pas l’empoigner, l’étreindre, la contenir. Nous pouvons aussi la désigner, mais non pas proprement la définir, la circonscrire exactement.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1800
p. 3140We know many things with the precision that suffices to satisfy the mind; but perhaps none with the exactness of which each thing is capable. Thus in this kind a certain imperfection pleases us, like a certain perfection.
Truth. We can touch it, but not seize it, clasp it, contain it. We can also point it out, but not properly define it, circumscribe it exactly.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1800 · Entry 1570
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.