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 3058 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 3058
French
p. 6115Comme un solo suivi d’un orchestre.
Ignorants qui ne connoissez que vos clavecins et vos orgues! Je jouë de la lyre antique, de la lyre à trois ou à cinq cordes, de la lyre d’Orphée, non de celle de Timothée. Je jouë de la harpe ou du basson quand ils accompagnent la voix. Instrumens (s’il faut vous le dire) qui causent autant de plaisir à celui qui les tient qu’à ceux qui les regardent; car il s’entend, il se juge, il est retenu dans son air, il est forcé de s’écouter. Il se charme lui-même et ne reçoit pas tout son plaisir des applaudissemens qui sont indispensables à vos concerts bruyans, comme un accompagnement sans lequel le nombre de leurs accords multipliés ne seroit pas complet.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 6116Like a solo followed by an orchestra.
Ignorant people who know only your harpsichords and your organs! I play the ancient lyre, the lyre of three or five strings, the lyre of Orpheus, not that of Timotheus. I play the harp or the bassoon when they accompany the voice. Instruments (if I must tell you) that give as much pleasure to the one who holds them as to those who watch them; for he hears himself, judges himself, is held within his tune, is forced to listen to himself. He charms himself and does not receive all his pleasure from the applause indispensable to your noisy concerts, like an accompaniment without which the number of their multiplied chords would not be complete.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 3058
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.