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 773 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 773
French
p. 154513 avril, jeudi saint.
Nota. que ce qui rend le culte utile, c’est sa publicité, sa manifestation extérieure aussi frappante qu’il est possible, son bruit, sa pompe, son fracas et son observance universellement et visiblement insinuée dans tous les détails de la vie publique et de la vie intérieure; c’est là seul ce qui fait les fêtes, les temps et les véritables variétés de l’année. Aussi faut-il dire hardiment que les cloches, le maigre, le gras etc. étoient des institutions profondément sages et des choses utiles, importantes, nécessaires, indispensables.
Quand il y a une solemnité, tant qu’elle dure, il faut que ce ne soit plus le cours du soleil mais elle (c’est-à-dire ses cérémonies) qui règle les heures en quelque sorte. Il faut que son objet plus que la température influe jusques sur les humeurs des hommes pendant ce temps. Il faut en un mot que le caractère du jour s’en ressente et que sa couleur en soit teinte.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1546April 13, Holy Thursday.
Note that what makes worship useful is its public character, its outward manifestation as striking as possible, its noise, its pomp, its clamor, and its observance universally and visibly insinuated into every detail of public and private life. This alone creates the festivals, the seasons, and the true variety of the year. Thus one must boldly say that bells, abstinence from meat, the eating of meat, etc., were profoundly wise institutions and useful, important, necessary, indispensable things.
When there is a solemn observance, for as long as it lasts, it must in some sense be this observance (that is, its ceremonies) that governs the hours, rather than the course of the sun. During that time its object must influence even men’s moods more than the temperature does. In a word, the character of the day must feel its effects and its color be tinted by it.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 773
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.