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 2955 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 2955
French
p. 590916 juillet.
« Dans la contemplation du beau (dit Mʳ M[ol]é) et dans la production du bien ». Et en effet ne dit-on pas faire le bien? Mais on le dit comme si on parloit d’un ouvrage et non comme si on parloit d’un enfant. Néanmoins etc. et en considérant ainsi le bien comme une espèce d’être, on en rend l’esprit plus frappé et l’expression est bonne.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 5910July 16.
“In the contemplation of the beautiful (says Mr. M[ol]é) and in the production of the good.” And indeed, do we not say to do good? But we say it as if speaking of a work and not as if speaking of a child. Nevertheless etc. and by thus considering the good as a sort of being, we make it strike the mind more forcibly, and the expression is good.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 2955
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.