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 1759 of 3781
[On movement.] · Entry 1759
French
p. 3517Paresse des scavans (car les esprits laborieux ont aussi leur paresse) est cause des obscurités dont l’idiome philosophique fatigue trop souvent l’esprit. L’un adopte la première expression venue, un autre l’expression adoptée par celui-ci, et insensiblement s’introduit un jargon... Que veut dire J.-J. lui-même lorsqu’il écrit que les rapports etc... Rien ne dispense d’être clair et le plus clair qu’il est possible, si la matière en vaut la peine et surtout si elle est un peu neuve.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On movement.]
p. 3518The laziness of scholars (for laborious minds also have their laziness) is the cause of the obscurities with which philosophical idiom too often wearies the mind. One adopts the first expression that comes, another the expression adopted by this one, and imperceptibly a jargon creeps in... What does J.-J. himself mean when he writes that relations etc... Nothing excuses us from being clear, and as clear as possible, if the matter is worth the trouble and especially if it is at all new.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On movement.] · Entry 1759
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.