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 733 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 733
French
p. 146512 mars.
L’oubli des choses de la terre, l’intention aux choses du ciel, l’exemption de toute ardeur âpre et de toute inquiétude, de tout soin et de tout souci, de tout trouble et de tout effort, la plénitude de la vie sans aucune agitation. Les délices du sentiment sans le travail de la pensée. Les ravissemens de l’extase sans les apprêts de la méditation. En un mot, la félicité de la spiritualité pure au sein du monde et parmi le tumulte des sens. Ce n’est que le bonheur d’une heure, d’une minute, d’un instant. Mais cet instant, cette minute de piété répand de la suavité sur nos mois et sur nos années.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1466March 12.
Forgetfulness of the things of earth, intentness on the things of heaven, freedom from all harsh ardor and all disquiet, from all care and all worry, from all disturbance and all effort, the fullness of life without any agitation. The delights of feeling without the labor of thought. The raptures of ecstasy without the preparations of meditation. In a word, the felicity of pure spirituality in the midst of the world and amid the tumult of the senses. It is only the happiness of an hour, of a minute, of an instant. But this instant, this minute of piety spreads sweetness over our months and our years.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 733
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.