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 2726 of 4529
1812 · Entry 6507
French
p. 5451La vie et la mort, les richesses et la pauvreté, la gloire et la honte (ou l’élévation et l’abbaissement) sont dans les mains de Dieu. Elles font partie de notre destinée qui ne dépend pas de nous. Mais le bien et le mal sont dans nos mains ou, comme le dit l’Ecriture, dans les mains de notre conseil, parce qu’ils font nos mérites ou nos démérites. Comme instrumens, nous avons une destination. Comme créatures morales, nous avons une liberté.
La vie et la mort (par lesquelles nous sommes ou ne sommes pas dans le monde), les richesses et la pauvreté (qui nous y assignent une place), la gloire et la honte ou l’élévation et l’abbaissement (qui nous y font jouer un rôle) tiennent en effet et touchent au train général des affaires humaines. Et Dieu s’en est réservé la répartition et en distribuë à son gré une mesure à chaque individu.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: 1812
p. 5452Life and death, riches and poverty, glory and shame (or elevation and abasement) are in the hands of God. They form part of our destiny, which does not depend on us. But good and evil are in our hands or, as Scripture says, in the hands of our counsel, because they make our merits or our demerits. As instruments, we have a destination. As moral creatures, we have a freedom.
Life and death (through which we are or are not in the world), riches and poverty (which assign us a place in it), glory and shame or elevation and abasement (which make us play a role in it) do indeed belong and relate to the general course of human affairs. And God has reserved their apportionment to himself and distributes a measure of them to each individual as he pleases.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · 1812 · Entry 6507
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.