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 3435 of 3781
YEAR 1804 · Entry 3435
French
p. 686918 avril.
Avec une sagesse qu’on a trop peu remarquée, Malebranche veut que, dans l’éducation des enfans, on se serve quelquefois de la douleur pour châtiment, mais que jamais on n’employe le plaisir pour récompense (il n’est ici question que des douleurs et des plaisirs du corps). La crainte qui réprime l’âme n’a pas pour elle, comme il l’observe, les mêmes inconvénients que le désir qui la rend ardente. Leur faire aimer le devoir par l’appât du plaisir, c’est les rendre sensuels et antivertueux. (Voyez ce qu’il dit à ce sujet à la fin du livre 2 de la Recherche; de l’imagination, lib. 1ᵉʳ.)
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1804
p. 6870April 18.
With a wisdom too little remarked, Malebranche wishes that, in educating children, one should sometimes use pain as punishment, but never pleasure as reward (only bodily pains and pleasures are in question here). The fear that restrains the soul does not have for it, as he observes, the same disadvantages as the desire that makes it ardent. To make them love duty through the bait of pleasure is to make them sensual and antivirtuous. (See what he says on this subject at the end of book 2 of the Recherche; on imagination, lib. 1ᵉʳ.)
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1804 · Entry 3435
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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.