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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[LOCKE] · Entry 2371
French
p. 47411ᵉʳ février.
(On a remarqué que tous les vers de Virgile sans exception ont 24 temps : nota, le dactile a 4 temps, le spondée 4, etc. Il est peut-être [vrai] que tous les écrivains à style remarquable ont secrettement quelque uniformité constante, mais que les excellens ont soin de cacher en la variant beaucoup au dehors.)
Je réfléchis, en finissant cette note, que tous les vers hexamètres ont 24 temps. Ainsi l’exemple de Virgile ne fait rien à ma proposition. Mais cette proposition est vraie. C’est toujours une uniformité constante et fixe qui donne un caractère déterminé au style d’un écrivain, comme c’est toujours un trait marqué et toujours le même qui donne de la physionomie à un homme.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [LOCKE]
p. 4742February 1.
(It has been observed that all Virgil’s lines without exception have 24 time units: note, the dactyl has 4 time units, the spondee 4, etc. It is perhaps [true] that all writers with a remarkable style secretly possess some constant uniformity, which, however, the excellent ones take care to conceal by varying it greatly on the outside.)
As I finish this note, I reflect that all hexameter lines have 24 time units. Thus Virgil’s example does nothing for my proposition. But that proposition is true. It is always a constant and fixed uniformity that gives a definite character to a writer’s style, just as it is always a marked feature, always the same, that gives a man a physiognomy.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [LOCKE] · Entry 2371
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.