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 2219 of 3781
[ON KANT.] · Entry 2219
French
p. 4437Eh! ne voyez-vous pas que pour être un grand métaphysicien il faut nécessairement que l’équilibre des nerfs soit rompu de temps en temps, mais légèrement ou rarement, sans quoi nous serions et resterions fols. Et ne voyez-vous pas aussi que la poësie se compose d’ignorances mises en œuvre par l’habileté de l’esprit et a pour cause la vivacité extrême d’une raison extraordinaire en faculté d’appercevoir, mais incapable de réflexion quand elle opère avec toute son énergie? Tout grand talent vient d’une maladie, d’un contrepoids mal établi où le vital est le plus faible et l’organique le plus fort. Maladie animale, mais force et santé de l’esprit; dérangement conforme à l’ordre, car il provient uniquement de ce qu’entre nos deux principes l’excellent a prédominé. Cette prédomination cependant a ses règles et ses mesures; et, en admettant tout, le plus ne doit pas aller jusqu’au trop. Sans quelque proportion dans ce dérangement, il y auroit ruine et ce ne seroit plus seulement l’équilibre qui se romproit, mais la balance.
Je dis donc que la raison du poète est une raison supérieure, incapable de réflexion quand il opère. Demeurer en harmonie en excédent, voilà la condition indispensable.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [ON KANT.]
p. 4438Well! do you not see that to be a great metaphysician the equilibrium of the nerves must necessarily be broken from time to time, but slightly or rarely, otherwise we would be and remain mad. And do you not also see that poetry consists of ignorances put to work by the mind’s skill, and has as its cause the extreme liveliness of a reason extraordinary in its faculty of perception, but incapable of reflection when it operates with all its energy? All great talent comes from an illness, from an ill-established counterweight in which the vital is the weaker and the organic the stronger. Animal illness, but strength and health of mind; disorder in keeping with order, for it comes solely from the fact that, between our two principles, the excellent has predominated. This predominance nevertheless has its rules and measures; and, granting everything, the more must not go as far as the too much. Without some proportion in this disorder there would be ruin, and it would no longer be merely the equilibrium that broke, but the balance.
I say, then, that the poet’s reason is a superior reason, incapable of reflection when he operates. To remain in harmony while exceeding: that is the indispensable condition.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [ON KANT.] · Entry 2219
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.