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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English Page · Branch 3468 of 3781
YEAR 1804 · Entry 3468
French
p. 6935Ces idées pures, c’est à dire sans mélange de figure et de couleur, tant que générales et capables de recevoir les formes comme un espace est propre à devenir un lieu, — bien. Si particulières, ne sont propres ni à s’entendre ni à se faire entendre, ni à se juger ni à se reprendre, ni à s’arrêter. L’imagination est du moins forcée à se tenir plus près de la réalité et ses erreurs ont cet avantage de plus et ce danger de moins qu’elles sont plus visibles.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1804
p. 6936These pure ideas, that is to say, without any admixture of figure and color, as long as general and capable of receiving forms as a space is fitted to become a place, — good. If particular, [they] serve neither for understanding oneself nor for making oneself understood, neither for judging oneself nor for correcting oneself, nor for stopping oneself. Imagination is at least forced to keep closer to reality, and its errors have this added advantage and this lesser danger, that they are more visible.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1804 · Entry 3468
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.