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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 IYEAR 1803 · Entry 2681

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YEAR 1803 · Entry 2681

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French

p. 5361

3 janvier.

Vieillards. Ont la mémoire des choses anciennes et n’ont pas la mémoire des choses récentes. « Le souvenir de loin », dit le peuple. Les vieillards ont dans la mémoire le même défaut qu’ils ont dans la vuë; et l’on peut dire d’eux qu’ils ont la mémoire longue.

5361

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1803

p. 5362

January 3.

Old men. They have a memory for old things and no memory for recent things. “Recollection from afar,” the people say. Old men have the same defect in their memory as in their sight; and one can say of them that they have a long memory.

5362

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.