Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II

Name: The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Author: Joseph Joubert

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II1812 · Entry 6297

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French Page · Branch 2516 of 4529

1812 · Entry 6297

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 5031

27 mars.

L’espace offre à l’esprit une longueur et une largeur sans profon[…]eur, et une continuité sans consistance, ou du moins sans impéné[…]rabilité — et n’est peut être que cela — et pourquoi pas?

Toutes les dimensions du corps ne pouvoient pas convenir au lieu; […]t le lieu étoit nécessaire. L’espace est le lieu commun où tous les […]ieux et tous les corps sont contenus. Il falloit donc qu’il y eût l’es[…]ace : l’espace existe parce qu’il étoit nécessaire; nécessaire aux mou[…]emens, aux existences, aux placemens et déplacemens. L’air est […]’image de l’espace.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: 1812

p. 5032

March 27.

Space offers the mind a length and a breadth without [depth], and a continuity without consistency, or at least without [impenetrability] — and perhaps is only that — and why not?

Not all the dimensions of body could suit place; [and] place was necessary. Space is the common place in which all [places] and all bodies are contained. There therefore had to be [space]: space exists because it was necessary; necessary for [movements], for existences, for placements and displacements. Air is [the] image of space.

T59.The two dimensional and material comparisons remain, followed by at least and perhaps. Consistency keeps the physical solidity range; impenetrability is not replaced by a figurative intellectual meaning. [Depth] and [impenetrability] render contextual profondeur and impénétrabilité from profon[…]eur and impéné[…]rabilité on page 711. The two source pages remain one paragraph, and the missing French letters are not restored.

T406.The first paragraph continues onto 711, where the initial letters in the divided profon[…]eur and impéné[…]rabilité are not certifiable. Profondeur and impénétrabilité are contextual completions only. The two dashes, restrictive phrase and closing question remain. The second paragraph begins separately on 711. Its left-edge starts before t le lieu, ieux and ’image remain explicit gaps; the divided l’es[…]ace and mou[…]emens likewise retain missing components. Et, lieux, l’image, espace and mouvemens are contextual possibilities only. The repeated nécessaire with intervening semicolon remains, as do lieu/espace, the plural body/dimension terms, placemens/déplacemens and the final air image. No modern account of space replaces the source’s formulation.

T60.Not all makes the partial negative explicit. Repeated place and space, doubled necessary with the intervening semicolon, and all four final nouns remain. The statement about air remains an image, not a replacement for space. This second paragraph begins physically on page 711. [And], [places], [space] and [movements] render contextual et, lieux, espace and mouvemens from […]t, […]ieux, l’es[…]ace and mou[…]emens. [The] represents the damaged article in […]’image, contextually l’image; image itself is intact. None of the missing French letters is restored.

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.