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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Facing Pages · Branch 2543 of 4529
1812 · Entry 6324
French
p. 508522 avril.
Il y a des vérités inférieures qui servent à la vie et à ses usages; des vérités moyennes qui exercent l’esprit et qui lui donnent quelque satisfaction (et malheureusement la satisfaction de lui même); enfin des vérités sublimes, des vérités supérieures qui éclairent l’âme, la nourrissent et font son bonheur. Il faut toujours lier les premières aux dernières, c’est à dire les inférieures aux supérieures par les moyennes.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: 1812
p. 5086April 22.
There are lower truths that serve life and its usages; middle truths that exercise the mind and give it some satisfaction (and unfortunately satisfaction with itself); finally, sublime truths, higher truths, that illuminate the soul, nourish it and make it happy. The first must always be linked to the last, that is to say, the lower to the higher through the middle.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · 1812 · Entry 6324
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.