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 2933 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2933
French
p. 586521 juin.
Il est (dites-vous) sautillant. Oui; comme un oiseau qui est en mouvement sur son arbre. Mais faites lui fendre les airs : il volera, il planera.
Eh! comment voulez-vous qu’on plane, si ce n’est par des temps et des mouvements insensibles et égaux. Car observez que dans cette opération de la volée, on avance en se tenant comme immobile.
— C’est le langage naturel d’un esprit qui plane en parlant.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 5866June 21.
He is (you say) hopping. Yes; like a bird moving about in its tree. But make him cleave the air: he will fly, he will soar.
Ah! how do you expect one to soar, except through imperceptible and equal times and movements. For observe that in this operation of flight, one advances while remaining, as it were, motionless.
—It is the natural language of a mind that soars as it speaks.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 2933
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.