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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French Page · Branch 2921 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2921
French
p. 5841[…] juin.
Les Grecs... aimoient la vérité, mais ne pouvoient pas se refuser au désir de la parer, à l’occasion de l’embélir. (à propos du nom des neuf muses donnés aux neuf livres d’Hérodote.)
Toutes les fois donc que vous verrez une circonstance peu prouvée mais dont leur imagination a nécessairement dû être tentée, admettez le dans le récit, mais ne vous en faites pas un point de foi et un article de croyance.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 5842June […].
The Greeks... loved truth, but could not resist the desire to adorn her, the opportunity to embellish her. (concerning the name of the nine muses given to the nine books of Herodotus.)
Thus whenever you see a circumstance that is little proved, but by which their imagination must necessarily have been tempted, admit it into the account, but do not make it a point of faith and an article of belief for yourself.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 2921
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.