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 115 of 3781
YEAR 1786. · Entry 115
French
p. 229Du stile. Une imitation ne doit être composée que d’images. Le poëte fait parler un homme passionné, il doit mettre dans sa bouche des expressions qui ne soient que l’image des mots qu’emploierait un homme réellement passionné. Si le peintre colore quelque objet, il faut de même que les couleurs qu’il emploie ne soient qu’une image des couleurs réelles. Un musicien ne doit employer que des images des sons réels, et non pas les sons réels eux mêmes. Le comédien doit observer la même loi dans le choix de ses tons et de ses gestes. C’est la grande règle, la règle première, la règle unique. Tous les excellens artistes l’ont observée et entrevuë, mais personne ne l’a jamais proposée. Je le fais aujourd’hui avec d’autant plus de confiance qu’elle se prouve par son évidence comme tous les principes qui naissent de l’essence des choses. « La copie de l’objet (dit en parlant de toute imitation l’abbé Dubos) doit exciter en nous une copie de la passion que l’objet y auroit excitée. » Cette expression, tant elle est importante, doit suffire pour rendre le nom de ce scavant homme digne de l’immortalité, etc., etc., etc. ».
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1786.
p. 230No individual date printed
On style. An imitation must be composed only of images. The poet makes an impassioned man speak; he must put into his mouth expressions that are only the image of the words a truly impassioned man would use. If the painter colors some object, likewise the colors he uses must be only an image of the real colors. A musician must use only images of real sounds, and not the real sounds themselves. The actor must observe the same law in choosing his tones and gestures. It is the great rule, the first rule, the sole rule. All excellent artists have observed and glimpsed it, but no one has ever proposed it. I do so today with all the more confidence because it proves itself through its self-evidence, like all principles born of the essence of things. “The copy of the object,” says the Abbé Dubos, speaking of every imitation, “must arouse in us a copy of the passion the object would have aroused there.” This expression, so important is it, must suffice to make the name of this learned man worthy of immortality, etc., etc., etc.”
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1786. · Entry 115
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.