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 945 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 945
French
p. 18898 décembre.
Les loix. — Ce sont de simples écriteaux placés souvent dans des recoins où personne ne peut les lire. Si vous voulez que le public ne passe pas par un chemin, fermez-le par une barrière qui arrête dès le premier pas et machinalement l’homme même le plus distrait. L’impossibilité éloigne mieux que la déffense des choses qui sont interdites. Que si les barrières vous manquent et si l’écriteau seul est en votre pouvoir, placez-le au moins dans un milieu, à la portée de la vue, et que dis-je? au niveau de l’œil. Qu’en un mot le regard d’un homme ne puisse pas aller au delà de lui sans être arrêté par lui. Employez des lettres visibles. Et ce n’est pas encore assez : employez des lettres frappantes, des lettres qui sautent aux yeux. — Et disons du style des loix ce que j’ai dit etc. Traitons l’attention de l’esprit comme il faudroit traiter la vue.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1890December 8.
Laws. — They are mere signs, often placed in corners where no one can read them. If you want the public to keep off a path, close it with a barrier that stops even the most distracted man at his first step and mechanically. Impossibility keeps people from forbidden things better than prohibition does. But if you lack barriers and a sign is all you have at your disposal, at least put it in a central place, within sight—and what am I saying? at eye level. In a word, a man’s gaze must be unable to go beyond it without being stopped by it. Use visible letters. And that is still not enough: use striking letters, letters that leap to the eye. — And let us say of the style of laws what I have said etc. Let us treat the mind’s attention as sight ought to be treated.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 945
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.