Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
English Page · Branch 3424 of 3781
YEAR 1804 · Entry 3424
French
p. 6847Fontanes m’écrivoit en 1786 : « ... Il n’est pas bien sûr que la perfection à laquelle vous aspirez ne soit pas un but chimérique... D’ailleurs qui est-ce qui l’appercevra et vous en scaura gré... Quand je commençai à écrire je faisois comme vous, je voulois tout soigner, ce qui ne servoit qu’à rendre mon style sec et dur. » Certes en cela il se trompoit et d’ailleurs le soin fait aisément disparoître la dureté qui vient du soin, etc. J’ai brûlé cette lettre ce matin, j’en suis fâché.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1804
p. 6848Fontanes wrote to me in 1786: “... It is by no means certain that the perfection to which you aspire is not a chimerical goal... Besides, who will perceive it and give you credit for it... When I began to write, I did as you do, I wanted to take care with everything, which only served to make my style dry and hard.” Certainly he was mistaken in that, and besides, care easily makes the hardness that comes from care disappear, etc. I burned that letter this morning, I am sorry for it.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1804 · Entry 3424
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.