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 908 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 908
French
p. 1815Ceux qui pendant la vie ont douté de ces vérités en occuppent pendant mille ans les yeux de leur esprit qui n’apperçoivent leur clarté qu’au travers de mille nuages. Cette contemplation sans decouverte est leur occupation unique. Elle leur sert de châtiment. Cette peine continue de contempler l’obscurité est également le partage de tous ceux qui méconnurent la lumière soit par une erreur méthodique, soit par la dureté de leur cœur.
Nota. N’épluchons pas ce qui n’est pas douteux.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1816Those who during life doubted these truths occupy their mind’s eyes with them for a thousand years, perceiving their clarity only through a thousand clouds. This contemplation without discovery is their sole occupation. It serves them as punishment. This continual pain of contemplating darkness is equally the lot of all who failed to recognize the light, whether through a methodical error or through the hardness of their hearts.
Note. Let us not pick apart what is not doubtful.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 908
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.