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 2687 of 3781
YEAR 1803 · Entry 2687
French
p. 5373D’où la difficulté d’écrire? L’ambition, les modèles, le luxe introduit dans les styles; tout ce qu’il faut scavoir et tout ce qu’il faut oublier; la variété des goûts qu’on a à satisfaire, par le grand nombre de liseurs. Il est difficile d’écrire comme il est difficile de se meubler. Les lecteurs veulent trop de magnificence et de commodités. Enfin la nécessité de plaire autant que les autres; et de là aussi la nécessité de plaire souvent plus que soi même. Comme dit M. de Montesquieu enfin (et pour parler comme le peuple) de ce qu’on veut renchérir. Car ce siècle est aussi fantasque et il n’est plus possible de bien faire sans être un peu singulier.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1803
p. 5374Whence the difficulty of writing? Ambition, models, the luxury introduced into styles; all one must know and all one must forget; the variety of tastes one has to satisfy, given the great number of readers. Writing is difficult as furnishing one’s home is difficult. Readers want too much magnificence and too many conveniences. Finally, the need to please as much as others; and hence also the need often to please more than oneself. As M. de Montesquieu says, finally (and to speak as the people do), because one wants to outbid. For this century is also capricious, and it is no longer possible to do well without being a little singular.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1803 · Entry 2687
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.