Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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English Page · Branch 2008 of 4529
YEAR 1808 · Entry 5789
French
p. 401522 juin.
Rivarol disoit : « La raison est un composé de l’utile et du vrai, ce qui la distingue de la vérité pure. La raison n’exclut pas les bons préjugés, ce qui lui donne le droit de parler haut. La vérité les exclud, ce qui la condamne à la réserve, au mystère et souvent au silence. »
Cette pensée pêche par ses nominatifs. Au lieu de la raison et de la vérité, mettez en opposition la sagesse et la philosophie; et dites : — La sagesse a pour objets de ses études et de son amour l’utile et le vrai, ce qui la distingue de la philosophie qui ne cherche que la vérité seule. La sagesse n’exclut pas les bons préjugés etc. et la philosophie les exclud.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1808
p. 4016June 22.
Rivarol said: “Reason is a compound of the useful and the true, which distinguishes it from pure truth. Reason does not exclude good prejudices, which gives it the right to speak out. Truth excludes them, which condemns it to reserve, to mystery, and often to silence.”
This thought errs in its nominatives. Instead of reason and truth, set wisdom and philosophy in opposition; and say: — Wisdom has the useful and the true as the objects of its study and its love, which distinguishes it from philosophy, which seeks only truth alone. Wisdom does not exclude good prejudices etc. and philosophy excludes them.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1808 · Entry 5789
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 II continues the notebooks and includes seventy undated pieces. 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.