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 1579 of 3781
YEAR 1800 · Entry 1579
French
p. 315714 février.
Du point de vue (et que le choix en est important). Si votre pensée approche trop ou trop peu votre sujet, si vos expressions approchent trop ou trop peu votre pensée, le vrai point de vue est manqué. Alors il n’y a plus d’agrément. L’agrément est indispensable, car c’est lui qui appelle ou retient l’attention.
L’agrément est tellement inhérent à certains sujets que, de quelque manière qu’on les traite, il s’y trouve; mais il ne s’y trouve que pour quelques-uns.
Affin qu’il se trouve pour tous, il faut choisir les beaux côtés, les mots clairs, le vrai point de vue.
Tout a son point de vue. En deçà et au delà il y a faute et il faut corriger.
Il ne suffit pas que l’objet qu’on présente soit lui; il faut encore qu’il soit éclairé comme il faut et montré à la distance convenable. Tout est tableau et doit être fait et traité comme un tableau.
L’agrément ne vient pas toujours de la parure, et même il en vient rarement. Il faut pour plaire que beaucoup de sujets soient nuds, mais il n’en est point qui puisse se passer de l’aide de la perspective.
(Et dans les mathématiques? Dans les mathématiques, il y a configuration; par conséquent, le point de vue pour elles est que la figure ne montre d’elle qu’elle-même...)
La curiosité suffit pour rendre agréables de certaines matières. Alors, l’agrément qu’on trouve à lire certains livres ne vient pas d’eux, mais de l’esprit du lecteur et de sa disposition. Quand un livre n’a pas ce mérite, on peut le lire avec plaisir, mais sans estime. On en use et on s’y plaît pour le besoin. Après le besoin satisfait, on s’y déplaît et on le jette.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1800
p. 3158February 14.
On the point of view (and how important its choice is). If your thought comes too close to your subject or not close enough, if your expressions come too close to your thought or not close enough, the true point of view is missed. Then there is no more charm. Charm is indispensable, for it calls or holds the attention.
Charm is so inherent in certain subjects that, however they are treated, it is found in them; but only for some.
For it to be found by everyone, one must choose the beautiful aspects, clear words, the true point of view.
Everything has its point of view. On this side and beyond it there is fault, and one must correct it.
It is not enough that the object presented should be itself; it must also be lit as it should be and shown at the proper distance. Everything is a picture and must be made and treated as a picture.
Charm does not always come from adornment; indeed, it rarely does. To please, many subjects must be naked, but none can do without the aid of perspective.
(And in mathematics? In mathematics, there is configuration; consequently, its point of view is that the figure should show of itself only itself...)
Curiosity suffices to make certain matters pleasant. Then the pleasure found in reading certain books comes not from them, but from the reader’s mind and disposition. When a book lacks this merit, one may read it with pleasure, but without esteem. One uses it and takes pleasure in it out of need. Once the need is satisfied, it displeases one and one throws it away.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1800 · Entry 1579
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.