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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English Page · Branch 867 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 867
French
p. 173330 juillet.
... Je le sens exister.
Ne pas : — Définir ce qui est connu : un bavardage. Obscurcir ce qui est clair : barbouillage. Mettre en question ce qui est en fait : mauvaise foi, ignorance. Rendre abstrait ce qui est palpable : charlatanisme. Et offrir des difficultés qui ne s’offrent pas elles-mêmes ou n’ont qu’une vaine apparence : chicane.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1734July 30.
...I feel him existing.
Do not:—Define what is known: chatter. Obscure what is clear: daubing. Call into question what is fact: bad faith, ignorance. Make abstract what is palpable: charlatanism. And offer difficulties that do not present themselves or have only an empty appearance: quibbling.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 867
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.