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

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I

Name: The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Author: Joseph Joubert

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2847

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[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2847

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 5693

[…] avril.

L’abbé Delile. — Il y a plus d’art dans ses premiers ouvrages et plus de naturel dans ceux cy. On se souvient plus vite des vers qu’il a fait[s] autrefois, mais on relira plus souvent ces derniers vers qu’il vient de faire.

Ces beautés qui donnent plus d’exercice au goût, à la réflexion, à l’imagination ne sont pas si délicieuses.

Ames... Goûtez les charmes du repos, ce n’est pas de l’inaction.

Vous mettez dans vos jugemens de l’esprit du siècle, de la mode. Eh laissez y dominer votre bon naturel, le good-nature de votre originalité.

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

p. 5694

April […].

The abbé Delile.—There is more art in his first works and more naturalness in these. One recalls the verses he made formerly more quickly, but will reread more often these latest verses he has just made.

These beauties that give more exercise to taste, reflection, imagination are not so delicious.

Souls... Savor the charms of repose; it is not inaction.

You put something of the spirit of the age, of fashion, into your judgments. Ah, let your good disposition prevail there, the good-nature of your originality.

S1.Source editor’s annotationReadings. No doubt there is an article on the abbé Delille in that day’s newspaper (probably the Journal des Débats).

S2.Source editor’s annotation“See the April exercise book, same date.” And likewise, in the notebook, before “there is always...” Joubert refers to Readings: “Vid. le cay. lect. même datte.”

T171.The source editor supplies [s] to make fait agree with vers. English made cannot reproduce that letter-level intervention naturally; it is therefore recorded here. The distinction between quicker recollection and more frequent rereading is kept.

T176.The first instruction is translated; the second abbreviated reference is retained as printed: Vid. le cay. lect. même datte. It means approximately ‘See the readings exercise book, same date.’ The abbreviations and historical spelling remain visible, and do not create a new date.

T172.Good-nature is already English in Joubert’s French and is retained exactly, including its hyphen. Good disposition renders bon naturel so that the shift to his borrowed expression remains perceptible.

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.