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 2490 of 3781
[LOCKE] · Entry 2490
French
p. 49795 avril.
Platon, Aristote, etc. C’est leur attention à classer (en distinguant, en divisant, en dénombrant etc.) qui rend souvent insupportable la lecture de leurs ouvrages. Formes de l’endoctrinement. On trouve en eux de très grands hommes, mais on y voit des professeurs.
Ce sera bien pis des modernes. Leur méthode leur plaît, mais bientôt ne plaira qu’à eux. Travaillant chaque jour à la rendre inutile, ils y réussissent, et l’ennui se faira sentir. Au moins les anciens que j’ai nommés ont de beaux dans leurs minutieuses... Mais qu’ont produit, que produisent, que produiront...?
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [LOCKE]
p. 4980April 5.
Plato, Aristotle, etc. It is their attention to classifying (by distinguishing, dividing, enumerating etc.) that often makes reading their works unbearable. Forms of indoctrination. One finds very great men in them, but sees professors.
It will be far worse with the moderns. Their method pleases them, but soon will please only them. Working every day to make it useless, they succeed, and the tedium will be felt. At least the ancients I have named have beautiful in their meticulous... But what have produced, what produce, what will produce...?
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [LOCKE] · Entry 2490
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.