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 3274 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 3274
French
p. 654721 décembre.
Dieu! Si l’être ou l’existence est son essence, il s’ensuit évidemment que l’idée de ses deux éternités est comprise dans celle de son actualité.
Et nous aussi nous voyons tout en nous mêmes.
Les nombres sont nécessaires à la faiblesse humaine, comme des étiquettes propres à distinguer. Mais à Dieu, non. On n’a pas besoin de compter, pour connoître, quand on voit. On a bien appellé Dieu l’éternel géomètre; mais qui pourroit souffrir qu’on l’appellât l’éternel arithméticien?... [etc. P. André.]
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 6548December 21.
God! If being or existence is his essence, it plainly follows that the idea of his two eternities is contained in that of his actuality.
And we too see everything within ourselves.
Numbers are necessary to human weakness, like labels suited to making distinctions. But to God, no. One has no need to count in order to know when one sees. God has indeed been called the eternal geometer; but who could bear to have him called the eternal arithmetician?... [etc. Father André.]
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 3274
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.