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 1734 of 3781
[On movement.] · Entry 1734
French
p. 346729 mai.
Ne rebuttons rien, car nous avons besoin de tout dans la recherche de la vérité. La science des lignes et des nombres peut grandement nous y aider. Estimons-les donc et honorons-les comme des instrumens utiles, précieux, nécessaires. Ceux qui font de ces moyens d’avancement le dernier but de leurs études ont sans doute un esprit borné; mais ils conservent ces scavoirs, ils les débitent, les répandent. Ils sont aux vrais génies parmi les philosophes ce que sont les marchands de microscopes et de télescopes aux observateurs proprement dits.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On movement.]
p. 3468May 29.
Let us reject nothing, for we need everything in the search for truth. The science of lines and numbers can greatly help us in it. Let us therefore esteem and honor them as useful, precious, necessary instruments. Those who make these means of advancement the final goal of their studies undoubtedly have a limited mind; but they preserve these kinds of knowledge, retail them, spread them abroad. They are to the true geniuses among philosophers what sellers of microscopes and telescopes are to observers properly so called.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On movement.] · Entry 1734
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.