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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Facing Pages · Branch 2771 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2771
French
p. 5541L’éloge de Washington est un ouvrage, l’éloge de Laharpe est un ouvrage. Pourquoi? Parce qu’il y a là un sujet et qu’il est traité. Ces écrits cependant sont courts. L’article sur Mme de Staël est plus long. Autant d’esprit et de talent s’y développe; il y a plus d’étoffe et plus de travail. Et cependant ce n’est pas un ouvrage, parce qu’il n’y a pas de sujet. C’est ainsi qu’un manteau n’est pas un habit, quoiqu’il y ait dans son ampleur de quoi revêtir bien des tailles. Faisons des gilets s’il le faut, au lieu de perdre notre temps à étaler des draperies.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 5542The eulogy of Washington is a work, the eulogy of Laharpe is a work. Why? Because there is a subject there and it is treated. Yet these writings are short. The article on Mme de Staël is longer. As much mind and talent unfolds in it; there is more fabric and more labor. And yet it is not a work, because there is no subject. So a mantle is not a coat, though in its fullness there is enough to clothe many figures. Let us make vests if we must, instead of wasting our time displaying draperies.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 2771
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.