DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

Explore the Lexicon
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2766

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

French Page · Branch 2766 of 3781

[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2766

Book Mode

French

p. 5531

Fontenelle. Ombre de voix. C’étoit une ombre d’homme qui n’avoit qu’une ombre de voix. On ne l’entendoit plus; mais on l’écoutoit avec soin. Il ressembloit au vieux Titon quand il fut changé en cigale.

5531

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]

p. 5532

Fontenelle. A shadow of a voice. He was a shadow of a man who had only a shadow of a voice. One could no longer hear him, but one listened to him carefully. He resembled old Tithonus when he was changed into a cicada.

5532

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.