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 665 of 3781
YEAR 1796 · Entry 665
French
p. 132920 octobre.
Du nombre sept. Les phrases de la lune qui s’accomplissent et varient de sept en sept jours ont fait du nombre sept le nombre le plus promptement observé et le plus universellement employé dans les divisions du temps chez la plupart des peuples de la terre. Ils semblent dire de ce nombre : Les astres nous l’ont enseigné. C’est un nombre presque divin.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1796
p. 1330October 20.
Of the number seven. The phrases of the moon, which complete themselves and vary every seven days, have made seven the number most quickly observed and most universally used in the divisions of time among most peoples of the earth. They seem to say of this number: The stars taught it to us. It is an almost divine number.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1796 · Entry 665
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.