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 377 of 3781
YEAR 1794 · Entry 377
French
p. 75311, vendredi.
J’ai pensé à mon propre bonheur, à l’état de calme et de paix de l’âme et du corps de la mère, à la bonne et décente conformation de l’enfant, qui est un bien inappréciable. Quoique né d’une mère faible il est fort assés. Sa constitution est saine. On l’eût levé de terre à Lacédémone. L’enfant et la mère se portoient bien. Après tant de craintes au sujet de l’un et de l’autre, craintes si heureusement démenties, je me suis dit réjouis toi.
J’ai gardé la maison et me suis promené dans le petit jardin pour me recueillir dans ma joye.
Accouchement ne fut jamais plus heureux, ni allaitement moins difficile.
L’enfant ne paroit pas méchant.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1794
p. 75411, Friday.
I thought of my own happiness, of the mother’s calm and peaceful state of soul and body, of the child’s sound and seemly form, which is a priceless good. Though born of a frail mother, he is strong enough. His constitution is sound. They would have lifted him from the ground in Lacedaemon. The child and the mother were well. After so many fears for both of them, fears so happily disproved, I said to myself: rejoice.
I stayed at home and walked in the little garden to gather myself in my joy.
Never was a delivery happier, or nursing less difficult.
The child does not seem ill-tempered.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1794 · Entry 377
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.