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 3166 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 3166
French
p. 6331Force d’esprit, force de tête. — Il y a des différences entre ces mots. Quiquonque a une tête forte a un esprit fort. Mais tous ceux qui ont un esprit fort n’ont pas pour cela une tête forte, c’est à dire une tête propre à supporter sans interruption et sans fatigue une longue attention sans que la tête en souffre ou que la santé s’en ressente. Il y a dans toute tête forte, force de santé, au moins quant à cette partie.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 6332Strength of mind, strength of head.—There are differences between these words. Whoever has a strong head has a strong mind. But not everyone who has a strong mind therefore has a strong head, that is, a head fit to sustain long attention without interruption or fatigue, without the head suffering from it or health being affected. In every strong head there is strength of health, at least in that part.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 3166
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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.