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 3271 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 3271
French
p. 6541De ceux qui peuvent prendre [garde] à la pluye et au beau temps, au vent, à l’heure et à la lune — ou — De ceux qui possèdent leur âme et qui sentent tous les momens avec leurs variations — et — De l’uniformité des saisons, des jours, des heures pour le trouble et les passions.
L’âme qui est toujours la même mesure le temps. L’âme qui est dans le trouble ne mesure rien. Tout lui est uniforme autour d’elle parce que son changement et sa perturbation est toujours la même.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 6542On those who can pay [heed] to rain and fine weather, to the wind, the hour, and the moon — or — On those who possess their soul and feel every moment with its variations — and — On the uniformity of seasons, days, hours for turmoil and the passions.
The soul that is always the same measures time. The soul in turmoil measures nothing. Everything around it is uniform to it because its change and disturbance is always the same.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 3271
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.