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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.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I[LOCKE] · Entry 2590

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Facing Pages · Branch 2590 of 3781

[LOCKE] · Entry 2590

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French

p. 5179

[…]0 juin

Mʳ de Bonnal. « Il en est (me disoit-il) de l’esprit comme de l’argent. Tout le monde en a un peu (et en effet tout le monde en a un peu par la seule force de la circulation); mais peu l’ont en propriétés » (en mines, en véritables fonds).

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [LOCKE]

p. 5180

June […]0

Mr. de Bonnal. “It is (he used to tell me) with wit as with money. Everyone has a little (and indeed everyone has a little simply through the force of circulation); but few own it as property” (in mines, in real capital).

5180

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.