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 3254 of 3781
[On Voltaire.] · Entry 3254
French
p. 650715 décembre.
L’esprit a aussi de grands traits, des mouvemens, des coups de maître qui ne dépendent pas de lui. On les remarque, ils étonnent, on ne scait même qu’en penser; quelquefois on les désapprouve, ils finissent par subjuguer. Il y a dans les agrémens même quelque chose qui vient du ciel (de la nature, etc.) et qui échappe aux efforts des hommes quand ils veulent le dépriser.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On Voltaire.]
p. 6508December 15.
The mind too has great strokes, movements, masterstrokes that do not depend on it. One notices them, they astonish, one does not even know what to think of them; sometimes one disapproves of them, they end by subjugating. Even in charms there is something that comes from heaven (from nature, etc.) and eludes men’s efforts when they wish to disparage it.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On Voltaire.] · Entry 3254
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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.