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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French Page · Branch 1864 of 3781
[On Locke] · Entry 1864
French
p. 37272 août.
« Se servir des mots dans leur usage propre, autre remède », dit-il. J’ajoute : et s’en servir dans leur sens primitif bien expliqué, autre utilité et grand moyen de découvertes!
... dit encore que « la plupart des idées sont claires d’un côté et obscures de l’autre ». Voilà le fondement de toute l’utilité dont la philosophie peut être au monde : en éclairant la face obscure.
Il joue sur le mot : « Je manquerois d’entendement en écrivant sur l’entendement... » Le grave Locke s’égaye aussi dans sa préface sur « la chasse » des pensées.
[...] Tout cela est mal dit et par la faute du traducteur et par la faute de l’auteur. Mais on ne se piquoit pas alors de précision quand il ne falloit exprimer que des pensées peu importantes. C’est cependant en ce cas que l’extrême précision seroit nécessaire affin que l’esprit vît tout d’un coup et vite ce qui est peu digne de l’arrêter longtemps.
[...] En combattant ce qu’ils [ses contradicteurs] entendoient par notions innées, il [Locke] serre trop le sens du mot et a l’air d’agir et de se déterminer plus par raisonnement que par conviction. Il semble dans cette question avoir consulté les règles de la logique plus que son propre sentiment, son sens intime.
[...] Il voudroit que « chacun eût soin de n’employer aucun terme avant que d’avoir vu dans son esprit l’idée précise et déterminée » (ou la nuance) « dont il veut que (ce terme) soit le signe ». Grande règle pour écrire, et pour bien écrire! « Il n’y a presque personne (ajoute-t’il) qui s’astreigne à cette grande exactitude ». Et de là tant de livres, et des livres si longs, et de si mauvais livres! Eh! mes amis, pourquoi écrire, si vous ne etc. Parler est de nécessité. Parlons donc comme nous pourrons. Mais écrire, mais imprimer! Il ne s’agit là que d’honneur : n’écris donc pas, si tu n’excelles et, pour exceller, écris peu. Car la vie de l’homme est trop courte et il lui reste trop peu de temps à donner à la composition pour pouvoir n’employer (dans beaucoup de livres) aucun terme avant que d’avoir vu dans son esprit l’idée précise et déterminée dont il veut que ce terme soit le signe. Je parle ici des ouvrages philosophiques. Mais, dira-t-on, l’utilité! L’utilité est dans la perfection.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Locke]
p. 3728August 2.
“To use words in their proper usage, another remedy,” he says. I add: and to use them in their primitive sense, well explained — another utility and a great means of discovery!
... also says that “most ideas are clear on one side and obscure on the other.” There is the foundation of all the usefulness philosophy can have for the world: in illuminating the obscure face.
He plays on the word: “I would lack understanding in writing on the understanding...” The grave Locke also amuses himself in his preface with the “hunting” of thoughts.
[...] All this is badly said, through the fault of both translator and author. But in those days one did not pride oneself on precision when one had to express only thoughts of little importance. Yet it is in this case that extreme precision would be necessary, so that the mind might see all at once and quickly what scarcely deserves to detain it long.
[...] In combating what they [his contradictors] understood by innate notions, he [Locke] constricts the word’s sense too much and seems to act and decide more through reasoning than through conviction. On this question he seems to have consulted the rules of logic more than his own feeling, his inner sense.
[...] He would have “everyone take care to use no term before seeing in his mind the precise and determinate idea” (or shade) “of which he wishes (this term) to be the sign.” A great rule for writing, and for writing well! “There is hardly anyone (he adds) who binds himself to this great exactness.” Hence so many books, and such long books, and such bad books! Ah! my friends, why write, if you do not etc. Speaking is a necessity. Let us therefore speak as we can. But writing, but printing! There it is only a question of honor: do not write, then, unless you excel; and to excel, write little. For man’s life is too short, and he has too little time left to give to composition, to be able to use (in many books) no term before seeing in his mind the precise and determinate idea of which he wishes this term to be the sign. I speak here of philosophical works. But, they will say, utility! Utility is in perfection.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Locke] · Entry 1864
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.