Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
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French Page · Branch 34 of 121
1833 · Le 24.
French
p. 67Le 24.
Achevé de lire la Physiologie végétale, par Candolle, 3 vol. in-8°. Le premier traite de la nutrition, le deuxième de la reproduction, le troisième de l’influence des agents extérieurs. Malgré la chimie, qui est pour beaucoup dans cet ouvrage, surtout dans le premier volume, et dont je n’entends pas un mot, j’ai pris un vif plaisir à cette lecture. Un monde tout nouveau s’est ouvert devant moi, un peu vague, il est vrai, et sans que j’y aie fait plus d’un demi-pas; mais quoi qu’il en soit, ce n’est pas un petit bonheur que de s’ouvrir une nouvelle perspective dans la contemplation de ce monde et de soupçonner quelque chose de la vie et de la beauté de la nature. Un nombre infini de détails m’ont échappé, mais l’impression qui me reste est précieuse. Elle a redoublé mon attrait pour l’observation des choses naturelles et m’a fait pencher vers une source inépuisable de consolations et de poésie. Oh! quel bonheur ce doit être dans le ciel, puisque la plus petite vue de l’ordre et de l’énergie vitale de notre globe si menu nous délecte si profondément. D’un autre côté, la peine et l’angoisse augmentent : on se heurte tous les jours la tête contre des phénomènes qu’on ne comprend pas, des phénomènes vulgaires, et c’est d’autant plus cruel. Mais il faut prendre patience en vue de l’avenir et accoutumer son âme à savoir vivre de peu.
The Green Notebook: 1833
p. 68April 24, 1833
Finished reading Plant Physiology by Candolle, three octavo volumes. The first deals with nutrition, the second with reproduction, the third with the influence of outside agents. Despite the chemistry, which plays a large part in this work, especially in the first volume, and of which I understand not a word, I took keen pleasure in the reading. An entirely new world opened before me, a little vague, it is true, and one into which I have taken scarcely half a step; but be that as it may, it is no small happiness to open a new prospect in the contemplation of this world and to glimpse something of nature’s life and beauty. An infinite number of details escaped me, but the impression that remains is precious. It has redoubled my attraction to observing natural things and inclined me toward an inexhaustible source of consolation and poetry. Oh, what happiness there must be in heaven, since the smallest glimpse of the order and vital energy of our tiny globe delights us so profoundly. On the other hand, distress and anguish increase: every day one strikes one’s head against phenomena one does not understand, ordinary phenomena, and that makes it all the more cruel. But one must be patient in view of the future, and accustom one’s soul to knowing how to live on little.
Socrates
Reading The Green Notebook · 1833 · April 24, 1833
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.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.