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 2301 of 3781
[ON KANT.] · Entry 2301
French
p. 4601[…]1 décembre.
« Des figures que le modèle puisse noter. » Fort bien. « En y réfléchissant, on voit qu’il faut plus d’étendue et plus de force » il faudroit peut-être se contenter de dire plus de patience « d’esprit pour développer une idée que pour la renfermer dans un certain tour qui lui donne l’air d’une saillie ou d’une maxime. » Cela ne suffit point du tout. Il faut que la pensée ait un mérite, un poids digne de la forme; et les esprits qui en ont de telles sont plus rares peut-être que ceux qui ont l’art des développemens.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [ON KANT.]
p. 4602December […]1.
“Figures that the model can note.” Very good. “On reflection, one sees that more breadth and more strength are needed” perhaps one should be content to say more patience “of mind to develop an idea than to enclose it in a certain turn that gives it the air of a flash of wit or a maxim.” That is not at all enough. The thought must have a merit, a weight worthy of the form; and minds that have such thoughts are perhaps rarer than those that possess the art of development.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [ON KANT.] · Entry 2301
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.