DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

Explore the Lexicon
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume IYEAR 1802 · Entry 2304

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

Facing Pages · Branch 2304 of 3781

YEAR 1802 · Entry 2304

Book Mode

French

p. 4607

Il faut se faire pardonner la piété. Sur quoi se fonde à cet égard la sévérité du genre humain. Sur le contentement même de ceux qui possèdent ce grand bien et qui méritent qu’on le leur dispute s’ils en sont indignes.

4607

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1802

p. 4608

One must obtain forgiveness for one’s piety. On what is the severity of mankind founded in this respect. On the very contentment of those who possess this great good and who deserve to have it disputed if they are unworthy of it.

4608

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.