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 1809 · Entry 6023

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Facing Pages · Branch 2242 of 4529

YEAR 1809 · Entry 6023

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 4483

Vérités physiques, historiques, morales. Sans liaison. Au contraire, il y a eu des erreurs physiques ou historiques qui ont été utiles aux vérités morales. Les vérités [physiques] et historiques, nécessaires à peu de gens; les vérités morales, nécessaires à tous.

Quand une erreur historique ou physique ne nuit à aucune vérité morale, elle ne nuit point au public.

Vérités intellectuelles ou des natures, bonnes à tous, quoique non nécessaires à tous; aussi tous n’en sont pas capables.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1809

p. 4484

Physical, historical, moral truths. Without connection. On the contrary, there have been physical or historical errors that have been useful to moral truths. [Physical] and historical truths, necessary to few people; moral truths, necessary to all.

When a historical or physical error harms no moral truth, it does no harm to the public.

Intellectual truths, or truths of natures, good for all, though not necessary to all; so not everyone is capable of them.

T184.The opening categories and Without connection remain separate fragments. The source-supplied bracket around [physiques] is retained around [Physical]. The usefulness of certain errors is Joubert’s proposition; the English adds no particular example or restriction.

T330.Three physical paragraphs remain. Physiques is supplied in square brackets in the source. The nominal descriptions, des natures and final partial negation remain unchanged.

T185.No moral truth preserves the scope of aucune, followed by the categorical does no harm to the public. The physical and historical categories remain in their printed order.

T186.Truths of natures keeps the compressed des natures instead of identifying a particular system of essences or natural science. Good for all and necessary to all remain distinct. The final partial negation means not everyone, not that no one is capable. So preserves the inferential force of aussi.

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.