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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Facing Pages · Branch 2723 of 3781
YEAR 1803 · Entry 2723
French
p. 5445Et par exemple F. n’étoit sage que de sa propre sagesse. P. lui même n’étoit fort que de son propre naturel. Au lieu que B. étoit fort de toutes les forces humaines, sage de toutes les sagesses; tout le bon sens du genre humain et le scavoir de tous les siècles étoit en lui.
Louer sans règle et sans mesure indique peu de jugement. Se faire admirer à outrance (quand cela se fait par sa faute) indique un mérite trompeur et qui pèche par quelque excès.
Ainsi P. est de première classe, mais non au premier rang.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1803
p. 5446And for example F. was wise only through his own wisdom. P. himself was strong only through his own nature. Whereas B. was strong with all human strengths, wise with all wisdoms; all the good sense of humankind and the knowledge of every century was in him.
To praise without rule or measure indicates little judgment. To make oneself admired to excess (when it happens through one’s own fault) indicates a deceptive merit that errs through some excess.
Thus P. is of the first class, but not in the first rank.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1803 · Entry 2723
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.