Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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English Page · Branch 2538 of 3781
[LOCKE] · Entry 2538
French
p. 507525 avril.
Diderot. Et de ce qui est trop fortement prononcé. Mêmes effets, à cet égard, dans ce qui est style et dans ce qui est articulation.
La « carte blanche » dont parle Diderot (page 333 du 14ᵉ volume de ses œuvres. Salon de 1767.) Cette carte blanche, donnée à la raison comme à l’imagination par la demi obscurité.
Diderot. Ce qu’il dit (fort étourdiment selon moi) « qu’un tyran est plus beau qu’un roi, les dieux méchans que des dieux bons » etc. (page 262, sallon de 1767.)
Il prend le remuement pour de l’émotion.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [LOCKE]
p. 5076April 25.
Diderot. And of what is too strongly pronounced. The same effects, in this respect, in what is style and in what is articulation.
The “carte blanche” of which Diderot speaks (page 333 of volume 14 of his works. Salon of 1767.) This carte blanche, given to reason as to imagination by half-darkness.
Diderot. What he says (very thoughtlessly, in my view), “that a tyrant is more beautiful than a king, wicked gods than good gods,” etc. (page 262, salon of 1767.)
He takes movement for emotion.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [LOCKE] · Entry 2538
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 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.