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 759 of 4529
Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered… · Entry 4540
French
p. 1517« Il me faudroit donc maintenant traiter des institutions... Il me resteroit à faire voir que c’est à elles qu’il faut atribuer la division des nations et la diversité de leurs mœurs. » Il resteroit encore, et ceci seroit plus important, de montrer la nécessité de la diversité des mœurs entre les nations diverses. La singularité de ses coutumes attachant l’homme à son pays, il faut à chaque peuple des mœurs ou du moins des usages qui ne soient pas semblables comme il faut aux armées de deux peuples des uniformes différens.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered…
p. 1518“I would therefore now have to treat institutions... It would remain for me to show that it is to them that one must attribute the division of nations and the diversity of their morals.” It would still remain, and this would be more important, to show the necessity of diversity of morals among diverse nations. The distinctiveness of his customs attaching man to his country, each people needs morals or at least practices that are unlike those of others, just as the armies of two peoples need different uniforms.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered… · Entry 4540
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.