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 957 of 3781
YEAR 1797 · Entry 957
French
p. 191323 décembre.
La vérité comme le feu se manifeste de trois manières par la lumière et par la chaleur. Sa lumière produit ce qu’on appelle l’évidence. Sa chaleur produit l’enthousiasme (je parle de celui qui est naturel, tranquile, doux et sans inégalités). On peut dire encore que comme le feu elle se manifeste aussi par une espèce de fumée, de brouillard et d’obscurité. Vapeur légère quoi qu’épaisse dont sont formées nos opinions qui viennent d’elle et ne sont pas elle.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1797
p. 1914December 23.
Truth, like fire, manifests itself in three ways, through light and through heat. Its light produces what is called self-evidence. Its heat produces enthusiasm (I mean the kind that is natural, calm, gentle, and without unevenness). One may also say that, like fire, it also manifests itself through a kind of smoke, mist, and darkness. A vapor, light though thick, from which our opinions are formed, which come from truth and are not truth.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1797 · Entry 957
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.