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 770 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 770
French
p. 1539Qu’importe que ces opinions et ces paroles soient grossières, si, proportionnées à la grossièreté de l’intelligence humaine, elles suffisent pour produire dans les âmes des hommes le plus beau et le plus délié de tous les sentimens, je veux dire la piété? Nous ne sommes que de la boue et cependant cette boue gouverne le monde. — Les instrumens de Dieu ne doivent point être estimés par la matière, mais par l’œuvre. S’ils ne manquent jamais leur coup, qu’importe qu’ils soient de fer ou de terre?
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1540What does it matter that these opinions and words are coarse if, proportioned to the coarseness of human intelligence, they suffice to produce in men’s souls the most beautiful and most delicate of all feelings—I mean piety? We are only mud, and yet this mud governs the world.—God’s instruments must be judged by their work, not their material. If they never miss their mark, what does it matter whether they are made of iron or earth?
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 770
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.