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 IIYEAR 1817 · Entry 7764

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English Page · Branch 3983 of 4529

YEAR 1817 · Entry 7764

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 7965

16 juillet.

I. Que : il faut avoir une religion, et non pas seulement de la religion; et que une religion est très bien dit.

II. Que la piété n’est pas une religion, quoiqu’elle soit l’âme de toutes.

III. Qu’ainsi on n’a pas une religion quand on a seulement de pieuses inclinations, comme on n’a pas de patrie quand on a seulement de la philantropie.

IV. Que : on n’a une patrie ou l’on n’est citoyen d’un pays que lorsqu’on se décide à observer et à défendre certaines loix, à obéir à de certains magistrats, à adopter de certaines manières d’agir et d’être.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1817

p. 7966

July 16.

I. That: one must have a religion, and not merely religion; and that a religion is very well said.

II. That piety is not a religion, although it is the soul of all religions.

III. That one thus has no religion when one has only pious inclinations, just as one has no homeland when one has only philanthropy.

IV. That: one has a homeland or is a citizen of a country only when one resolves to observe and defend certain laws, to obey certain magistrates, to adopt certain ways of acting and being.

T64.The Roman number, dependent That and unusual colon remain. A religion versus religion preserves the countable and uncounted distinction in the three italic phrases. Very well said stays a comment on expression rather than an endorsement of a named faith.

T183.The complete 16 governs four separate numbered paragraphs I–IV. Their dependent Que openings and the two Que colons are retained without a supplied governing clause. Philantropie and loix are literal; que une is not contracted. In the French source, five italic spans are retained: the first une religion with its comma, de la religion with its semicolon, and the second une religion in I; une religion with comma in II; une religion in III. IV and the numerals are roman. The closely adjoining punctuation is read with the italic runs at a qualified level in the available reproduction.

T65.The numbered dependent clause, negative and concessive relation remain. All religions makes explicit the French feminine plural antecedent of toutes; soul is retained as the metaphor.

T66.The dependent That, thus, two restrictions and parallel analogy remain. The English has no religion here means lacking a religion, in the preceding countable sense, rather than denying the existence of the pious inclinations stated next.

T67.The dependent That and colon, alternative, restriction and three infinitive duties remain, as do all occurrences of certain and the final acting/being pair. No political institution is identified.

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.