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 1970 of 3781
TRAVEL · Entry 1970
French
p. 393924 août.
Le Professeur.
Et, à propos du professeur, uniformité dans l’enseignement. Combien nécessaire.
Rien ne se fait de rien. — Oui, dit le professeur; et c’est ce qui prouve la création. (Pas mal, pour lui.)
« Notions préliminaires », dit le professeur. Eh! mon ami, les notions ne sont pas des notions et tes définitions ne définissent rien. Toute circonscription n’est pas portrait, toute n’est pas même figure. Tout ce qu’on scait dans le monde n’est que les notions préliminaires de ce que tu vas essayer. (Ces prétendues notions préliminaires ne sont qu’une explication des termes; les vraies notions préliminaires sont bien autre chose.)
II. Si ton objection n’obscurcit pas mon idée, quel besoin ai-je d’y répondre ou de la dissiper?
(« qui a formé la mémoire humaine » est bon.)
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: TRAVEL
p. 3940August 24.
The Professor.
And, speaking of the professor, uniformity in teaching. How necessary.
Nothing is made from nothing. — Yes, says the professor; and that is what proves creation. (Not bad, for him.)
“Preliminary notions,” says the professor. Ah! my friend, the notions are not notions and your definitions define nothing. Not every circumscription is a portrait, not every one is even a figure. All that is known in the world is only the preliminary notions for what you are about to attempt. (These supposed preliminary notions are only an explanation of terms; true preliminary notions are quite another thing.)
II. If your objection does not obscure my idea, what need have I to answer it or dispel it?
(“which formed the memory of mankind” is good.)
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · TRAVEL · Entry 1970
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.