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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Facing Pages · Branch 765 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 765
French
p. 15296 avril.
L’utilité est la manifestation de la vérité contenue dans une opinion où nous ne scavons pas et souvent même nous ne pouvons pas la voir. 2° La clarté dans une opinion est la manifestation visible de la vérité. L’utilité en est la manifestation palpable.
L’utilité est un fruit de la vérité. Souvent l’arbre est caché, mais son fruit le décèle.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1530April 6.
Usefulness is the manifestation of the truth contained in an opinion where we do not know how, and often cannot even manage, to see it. 2. Clarity in an opinion is the visible manifestation of truth. Usefulness is its palpable manifestation.
Usefulness is a fruit of truth. Often the tree is hidden, but its fruit reveals it.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 765
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.