Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
French Page · Branch 695 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 695
French
p. 138920 janvier.
Le philosophe, dans l’acception que l’on donne à ce mot en France, est un homme qui aspire à se conduire par sa propre raison et jamais par la raison d’autrui; qui érige dans son esprit un tribunal où il fait comparoître tout ce que les hommes respectent, et préfère ses pensées particulières et les réglements qu’il s’impose aux mœurs, aux loix et aux usages qu’il trouve établis. Le philosophe chez les Grecs étoit le métaphysicien; chez nous, c’est [le] réformateur.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1390January 20.
The philosopher, in the sense given to this word in France, is a man who aspires to govern himself by his own reason and never by another’s; who erects in his mind a tribunal before which he summons everything men respect, and prefers his private thoughts and the regulations he imposes on himself to the morals, laws, and customs he finds established. Among the Greeks, the philosopher was the metaphysician; among us, he is [the] reformer.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 695
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.