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 1955 of 3781
TRAVEL · Entry 1955
French
p. 3909La différence des êtres de logique et des êtres intellectuels. C’est par l’ignorance où l’on est de cette différence que la plupart des auteurs qui ne s’occupent que d’êtres de logique se croient pourtant des métaphysiciens et le font croire. C’est sur cette différence que se fonde celle que je cherchois entre les idées et les pensées.
On se sert aussi du nom de la métaphysique pour désigner une théorie. Mais une théorie n’est pas de la métaphysique.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: TRAVEL
p. 3910The difference between logical beings and intellectual beings. It is through ignorance of this difference that most authors who concern themselves only with logical beings nevertheless believe themselves metaphysicians and make others believe it. This difference is the basis of the one I was seeking between ideas and thoughts.
The name metaphysics is also used to designate a theory. But a theory is not metaphysics.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · TRAVEL · Entry 1955
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.