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 2350 of 4529
YEAR 1811 · Entry 6131
French
p. 469924 janvier.
Nous avons beau faire : nous n’aurons jamais en partage et en propre que la pénétration dont le ciel nous a doués. Tout le reste n’est qu’une apparence trompeuse, un mensonge qui cache notre nullité. Mais par le cœur et par les actions nous pouvons devenir tous les jours meilleurs que nous ne sommes nés.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1811
p. 4700January 24.
Whatever we may do: we shall never have as our share and our own anything but the penetration with which heaven has endowed us. All the rest is only a deceptive appearance, a lie that hides our nullity. But through the heart and through actions we can become better every day than we were born.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1811 · Entry 6131
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.