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

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I

Name: The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Author: Joseph Joubert

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I[On movement.] · Entry 1783

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English Page · Branch 1783 of 3781

[On movement.] · Entry 1783

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 3565

14 juin.

Contre le désir de parler. Les petites raisons, — routes, — où l’esprit se fourvoye.

S1.Source editor’s annotation16 juin. Joubert lit les Mémoires sur la vie de Jean Racine. Il note : « Boileau disoit : C’est la foi qui a conduit M. Racine à la raison. » Et (page 300) : « Les premières copies de ce mémoire écrites de sa main, m’ont fait juger par les ratures dont elles sont remplies que ces sortes d’écrits où il faut éviter tout ornement d’esprit en se bornant à un style précis et pur lui coûtoient plus de peine que d’autres. » Et : « Les deux jours qu’il employa à composer cette lettre (pour M. de Cavoye). » Joubert lit Baruch. Le dernier chapitre, contre les dieux faits à la main, Joubert l’appelle « Vrai modèle des traits frappans qu’il faut choisir lorsqu’on veut parler à un peuple. Cet endroit de Baruch est fort supérieur à la prière des Juifs que Lafontaine admiroit tant. On trouve ceppendant dans cette prière ce passage touchant... Et le discours de Jérusalem aux captifs est aussi plus beau que la prière... » — Ensuite, 14 juillet, extraits des lettres de Descartes.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On movement.]

p. 3566

June 14.

Against the desire to speak. The little reasons — roads — in which the mind goes astray.

S1.Source editor’s annotationJune 16. Joubert is reading the Mémoires sur la vie de Jean Racine. He notes: “Boileau used to say: It was faith that led M. Racine to reason.” And (page 300): “The first copies of this memoir, written in his hand, have led me to judge by the erasures with which they are filled that writings of this sort, in which every ornament of wit must be avoided and one must confine oneself to a precise and pure style, cost him more trouble than others.” And: “The two days he spent composing this letter (for M. de Cavoye).” Joubert is reading Baruch. The last chapter, against gods made by hand, Joubert calls a “True model of the striking features to choose when one wishes to speak to a people. This passage of Baruch is far superior to the prayer of the Jews that Lafontaine so admired. Yet in that prayer one finds this touching passage... And Jerusalem’s speech to the captives is also more beautiful than the prayer...” — Then, July 14, extracts from Descartes’s letters.

T28.The little reasons recalls the earlier wording on p. 253; roads retains the added routes. The source annotation has its own June 16 and July 14 dates, which do not replace the entry’s June 14 heading.

T194.The source annotation’s final date is printed 14 juillet and remains distinct from the body heading 14 juin.

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 I presents the entries on printed pages 32–475. 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.