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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French Page · Branch 2691 of 3781
YEAR 1803 · Entry 2691
French
p. 5381Ces temps où les événemens n’ont pas de liaison connue, n’ont pas une juste étendue, mais sont rapides, sont subits, et se croisent comme des éclairs, et se chassent comme des flots, ne donnent point de prise à la mémoire, ni de bonne matière aux historiens. L’histoire n’en peut être claire. C’est ainsi qu’une figure toute faite de points que l’on ne peut compter et de lignes qui s’entrelacent, à quoi que ce soit qu’elle ressemble, ne peut être que l’image obscure d’un objet obscur. De pareils temps pèchent donc nécessair[ement] par la foule d’où la confusion et la fatigue.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1803
p. 5382Those times when events have no known connection, have no proper extent, but are rapid, are sudden, and cross like lightning flashes, and chase one another like waves, give memory no hold and historians no good material. Their history cannot be clear. So a figure made entirely of points that cannot be counted and of lines that intertwine, whatever it may resemble, can only be the obscure image of an obscure object. Such times thus necessar[ily] err through the crowding, whence the confusion and fatigue.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1803 · Entry 2691
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.