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Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Maurice de Guérin

The Green Notebook

French with an independent English translation.

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The Green Notebook1835 · June 22, 1835

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Facing Pages · Branch 114 of 121

1835 · June 22, 1835

Book Mode

French

p. 227

Le 22.

Ce qui me fait, dans des moments, désespérer de moi, c’est l’intensité de mes souffrances pour de petits sujets, et l’emploi toujours malentendu et aveugle de mes forces morales. J’use quelquefois à rouler des grains de sable une énergie propre à pousser un rocher jusqu’au sommet des montagnes. Je supporterais mieux des fardeaux énormes que cette poussière légère et presque impalpable qui s’attache à moi. Je péris chaque jour secrètement; ma vie s’échappe par des piqûres invisibles. On me disait, il n’y a pas longtemps, que le mépris des hommes me conduirait loin; oui, et surtout si l’aigreur s’y mêle. Ce qui m’entoure me fatigue; je ne sais où je voudrais vivre, ni dans quelle profession; mais je déteste la mienne qui me gâte et me rend misérable. Elle me fait rompre à tout moment avec le peu de philosophie que je gagne dans les heures libres et graves ; elle m’irrite contre les hommes encore enfants. Que je me hais dans ces misères, et qu’il me prend de violentes envies de sauter sur un rivage libre, en repoussant du pied l’odieuse barque qui me charrie !

227

The Green Notebook: 1835

p. 228

June 22, 1835

What at times makes me despair of myself is the intensity of my suffering over small matters and the forever mistaken, blind use of my moral powers. Sometimes, to roll grains of sand, I use an energy capable of pushing a rock to the mountaintop. I would better bear enormous burdens than this light, almost impalpable dust which clings to me. I perish secretly every day; my life escapes through invisible punctures. Not long ago I was told that contempt for men would carry me far; yes, and especially if sourness mingles with it. What surrounds me wearies me; I do not know where I would like to live, or in what profession; but I detest mine, which spoils me and makes me miserable. At every moment it makes me break with the little philosophy I gain in my free and serious hours; it makes me angry with men who are still children. How I hate myself in these miseries, and what violent desires seize me to leap onto a free shore, pushing away with my foot the odious boat which carries me!

228

About This Reading Edition

Maurice de Guérin’s journal moves between close attention to nature, friendship, faith, and the inward demands of poetry. This bilingual edition presents the complete Journal section of the 1864 printing, with a separate appendix of earlier printed passages from 1861.

Historical Text and Translation

The French follows G. S. Trébutien’s sixth edition of Journal, lettres et poèmes (Paris: Didier et Cie, 1864), pages 3–126. Its 116 dated entries run from July 1832 to October 1835. Five earlier passages from Reliquiae (1861) appear separately in the appendix. Completeness refers to the printed Journal, rather than the autograph notebook; the following letters and poems are outside this edition.

About Diotimos Editions

Diotimos Editions prepared this independent English translation directly from the French, preserving Guérin’s imagery, repetitions, intimate voice, and original paragraph divisions. French and English remain aligned for comparison. Translator’s notes clarify words, quotations, and allusions, while historical editor notes retain their separate attribution. The Essential setting keeps explanations useful to reading; All also includes the note on the edition’s typographic treatment.

Rights

The historical French printings are in the public domain in the United States. The independent English translation and new editorial notes are © 2026 Diotimos Editions. The linked facsimiles identify the printed witnesses used for this edition. Historical annotations and editorial conjectures remain attributed to their source editors, and the earlier variant passages are presented separately from the later Journal text.