Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
Facing Pages · Branch 2403 of 3781
[LOCKE] · Entry 2403
French
p. 48056 mars.
Journaux. « D’un divertissement on fait une fatigue. » Se lisent vite; ne doivent contenir que des pensées qui ne puissent pas arrêter l’esprit du lecteur. Un journaliste, pour être bon, ne doit pas être trop supérieur au public, mais un primus inter pares. Et de là, les jeunes gens qui ont de l’esprit et du talent sont propres à bien écrire un journal. Car toutes les pensées (même communes) étant pour eux des nouveautés, des découvertes, ils leur donnent de bonne foi du relief par l’expression; et par le bienfait de leur âge ils écrivent bien ce qui ne mérite que peu d’être bien écrit.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [LOCKE]
p. 4806March 6.
Newspapers. “An amusement is made into a fatigue.” Are read quickly; should contain only thoughts that cannot arrest the reader’s mind. To be good, a journalist must not be too superior to the public, but a primus inter pares. Hence young people with intelligence and talent are suited to writing a newspaper well. For since all thoughts (even common ones) are novelties, discoveries to them, they give them relief in good faith through expression; and through the benefit of their age they write well what scarcely deserves to be well written.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [LOCKE] · Entry 2403
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.