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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English Page · Branch 2143 of 3781
[SAVIGNY NOTEBOOK] · Entry 2143
French
p. 4285Il est de l’essence de l’être qu’il y ait en lui quelque chose qui ne soit pas lui. Et pourquoi cela est-il de son essence? Parce qu’il est de son essence que, dans le dénombrement de ses perfections, soit celle d’être actif et puissant au dehors. Or, sans cette condition, il ne pourroit agir ou du moins opérer : un instrument lui manqueroit. Il lui faut du mouvement en soi et, hors de soi, de la matière pour faire un monde et n’être pas seul. Que si pour cela vous voulez que sa volonté lui suffise, soit. Alors, au lieu d’être un rejet de sa force d’existence, la matière sera une production de sa force de volonté, etc. Dans l’une et l’autre supposition, le résultat sera le même, les natures les mêmes, et les effets seront pareils.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [SAVIGNY NOTEBOOK]
p. 4286It is of the essence of being that there be in it something that is not itself. And why is this of its essence? Because it is of its essence that in the enumeration of its perfections there be that of being active and powerful outside itself. Now, without this condition, it could not act, or at least operate: it would lack an instrument. It needs movement within itself and, outside itself, matter to make a world and not be alone. If for this you wish its will to suffice, so be it. Then, instead of being an offshoot of its force of existence, matter will be a production of its force of will, etc. Under either supposition, the result will be the same, the natures the same, and the effects alike.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [SAVIGNY NOTEBOOK] · Entry 2143
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.