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 1818 · Entry 7820

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English Page · Branch 4039 of 4529

YEAR 1818 · Entry 7820

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 8077

25 février.

Et en effet (comme l’avoit très bien remarqué l’abbé Gratiani) aucune idée ne peut naître que d’un objet (ou d’une image) c’est à dire que (d’un sentiment ou que) d’une sensation (du sens interne ou des sens externes). Aucune démonstration ne peut produire aucune idée par elle-même parce que... La démonstration arrête l’esprit, le fixe et ne l’éclaire pas, à proprement parler.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1818

p. 8078

February 25.

And indeed (as the Abbé Gratiani had very well observed), no idea can be born except from an object (or an image), that is, only (from a feeling or only) from a sensation (of the inner sense or the external senses). No demonstration can by itself produce any idea because... Demonstration halts the mind, fixes it and does not, properly speaking, enlighten it.

T10.The four parenthetic passages and awkward repeated only retain the source’s formulation rather than rewriting the feeling/sensation relation. And indeed, prior observation, birth image, negative production and unfinished because remain. The paragraph continues onto 870 before the next separator; the final three actions are not split into another entry. English commas clarify syntax without completing the omitted explanation.

T260.The complete 25 owns one paragraph continuing through both opening lines of 870. All four parentheses, the anomalous internal ou que, unhyphenated c’est à dire, repeated aucune and printed three-point suspension after parce que remain. No page-boundary punctuation or paragraph is inserted. The compact circumflex of naître is qualified from the raised peaked component. All incoming 870 words are complete. The source collation records the 869 damaged date/letter limits, identifiable abraded starts, upper marks and roman typography, with the individual reading qualifications retained.

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.