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 1772 of 3781
[On movement.] · Entry 1772
French
p. 354328 juin.
Un jour, on aura peut-être des lumières meilleures, mais aura-t-on de meilleurs yeux? C’est à quoi se réduit toute cette question sur la perfectibilité attribuée à l’espèce humaine. Or nos télescopes n’ont pas allongé notre vue. Notre boussole même n’a pas augmenté notre scavoir, mais elle nous a fourni un moyen de nous en passer.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On movement.]
p. 3544June 28.
One day we may have better lights, but shall we have better eyes? That is what this whole question of the perfectibility attributed to the human species comes down to. Now our telescopes have not lengthened our sight. Even our compass has not increased our knowledge, but has given us a means of doing without it.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On movement.] · Entry 1772
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.