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 3051 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 3051
French
p. 61012 septembre.
« L’âme mêlée au corps ». Et le corps ne quitteroit l’âme que lorsqu’il seroit devenu impropre à lui rien apprendre, incapable de la servir. Mais — au contraire; — alors l’âme quitte le corps. Elle en a reçu l’ordre et, en se retirant peu à peu ou tout à coup, elle en laisse les parties ou la totalité sans fonctions, sans conservation.
Toute dans son tout et dans chaque point. Sa présence y fait la vie.
Le premier systhème ne nous montre qu’une machine; le second fait plus voir un ouvrage divin, un être. L’essence d’une machine est la matière. Son auteur n’est jamais qu’un homme. Mais l’essence d’un être est toujours l’esprit et Dieu en est toujours l’auteur.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 6102September 2.
“The soul mingled with the body.” And the body would leave the soul only when it had become unfit to teach it anything, incapable of serving it. But — on the contrary; — then the soul leaves the body. It has received the command to do so and, withdrawing little by little or all at once, leaves the body’s parts or the whole without functions, without preservation.
Whole in its whole and in every point. Its presence there makes life.
The first system shows us only a machine; the second brings more into view a divine work, a being. The essence of a machine is matter. Its author is never more than a man. But the essence of a being is always spirit, and God is always its author.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 3051
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.