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 2944 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2944
French
p. 5887Mauvais auteurs (soit de la grécité, soit de la latinité). En parler ou les traduire, c’est introduire dans le monde et y faire paroître un mauvais exemple qui y étoit caché. Les laisser dans l’obscurité, mais les conserver ceppendant, affin qu’ils soient connus de ceux qui ne peuvent en abuser. Mais il faudroit pour cela que les scavans eussent la force de cacher une partie de ce qu’ils scavent, ce qui est difficile à la plupart.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 5888Bad authors (whether of Greek or Latin literature). To speak of them or translate them is to introduce into the world and bring to light a bad example that lay hidden there. To leave them in obscurity, yet preserve them, so that they may be known to those who cannot misuse them. But for that, scholars would need the strength to conceal part of what they know, which is difficult for most.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 2944
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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.