Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
Facing Pages · Branch 2415 of 3781
[LOCKE] · Entry 2415
French
p. 482917 mars.
[Bonald.] Si vous dites : « Ceux qui avoient une constitution ne furent point détruits », cela plaît. Mais si vous disiez (comme on l’a fait : « Ceux-là ne furent point détruits : c’est qu’ils avoient une constitution », cela déplaît. Pourquoi? Parce que la pensée et le mot, qui ont du sens, mais qui n’ont aucune évidence, n’offrent pas à l’esprit une raison qui le repose et qui soit pour lui un dernier point suffisant de clarté, de solidité. (Vid. la page. 493 du tome 1ᵉʳ de la Théorie.)
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [LOCKE]
p. 4830March 17.
[Bonald.] If you say: “Those who had a constitution were not destroyed,” that pleases. But if you were to say (as has been done: “Those were not destroyed: it is because they had a constitution,” that displeases. Why? Because the thought and the word, which have meaning but no evident certainty, do not offer the mind a reason that gives it repose and serves as a sufficient final point of clarity, of solidity. (See page 493 of volume I of the Théorie.)
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [LOCKE] · Entry 2415
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.