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 3608 of 3781
[Malebranche.] · Entry 3608
French
p. 7215Ouï, en général je me représente fort bien Bossuet, Fénelon, même Platon, et même Mahomet portant leurs œuvres devant Dieu. Même Pascal, et même Labruyère, et même Vauvenargues, et même Lafontaine, car leurs œuvres peignent leur âme. (Et tous ceux dont les œuvres ont quelque chose du pur esprit.) Mais non pas J.-J. Rousseau, qui n’y a mis que son humeur et ses efforts; pour Voltaire, les siennes le peignent aussi, et elles lui seront comptées, ce me semble, mais à charge. Racine n’est point dans les siennes. Et aussi il s’en dégoûta. Son talent y est, mais non pas lui.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [Malebranche.]
p. 7216Yes, in general I can very well picture Bossuet, Fénelon, even Plato, and even Muhammad bringing their works before God. Even Pascal, and even Labruyère, and even Vauvenargues, and even Lafontaine, for their works paint their souls. (And all those whose works have something of pure spirit.) But not J.-J. Rousseau, who put into his only his humor and his efforts; as for Voltaire, his also paint him, and they will be counted to him, it seems to me, but against him. Racine is not in his. And so he grew disgusted with them. His talent is there, but not he.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [Malebranche.] · Entry 3608
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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.