Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
English Page · Branch 3020 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 3020
French
p. 6039Nota. Qu’il faut dire « la suprême justice » et « l’extrême injustice », faisant ainsi de ce qui est vertu quelque chose de haut, et de ce qui est vice quelque chose de bas et d’infernal. Lorsque, par véhémence de discours, nous brouillons et déplaçons ces termes, donnant à l’injustice le titre de suprême et celui d’extrême à la justice, c’est un désordre qui peut être admis, car il attire l’attention; il ne détourne point le sens (qui demeure droit) et la passion l’excuse.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 6040Nota. That one should say “supreme justice” and “extreme injustice,” thus making of what is virtue something high, and of what is vice something low and infernal. When, through vehemence of speech, we mix up and displace these terms, giving injustice the title of supreme and justice that of extreme, it is a disorder that may be allowed, for it draws attention; it does not divert the meaning (which remains straight), and passion excuses it.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 3020
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.