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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Facing Pages · Branch 1061 of 3781
YEAR 1798 · Entry 1061
French
p. 2121… septembre.
Il seroit singulier qu’en effet le stile ne fût beau que lorsqu’il a quelque obscurité, c’est à dire quelques nuages; et peut-être cela est vrai, lorsque cette obscurité lui vient de son excellence même, du choix des mots qui ne sont pas communs, du choix des tours qui ne sont pas vulgaires. Ce qui est sûr c’est que ce qui est beau a toujours à la fois quelque beauté visible et quelque beauté cachée. Ce qui est sûr encore c’est que ce qui est beau n’a jamais autant de charme pour nous que lorsque nous le lisons attentivement dans une langue que nous n’entendons qu’à demi.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1798
p. 2122September ….
It would be strange if style were indeed beautiful only when it has some obscurity, that is, some clouds; and perhaps this is true when that obscurity comes from its very excellence, from the choice of words that are not common, the choice of turns of phrase that are not vulgar. What is certain is that what is beautiful always has at once some visible beauty and some hidden beauty. What is also certain is that what is beautiful never has so much charm for us as when we read it attentively in a language we only half understand.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1798 · Entry 1061
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.