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 3403 of 3781
YEAR 1804 · Entry 3403
French
p. 68059 février.
Les anciens ne scavoient presque jamais bien nettement ce qu’ils pensoient. Ils fouilloient peu dans leur esprit, occupés du soin de bien dire. Ils se contentoient du plaisir que leur faisoient leurs propres mots, ne cherchant dans la réflexion que ce qu’ils se pouvoient procurer de beauté par elle. On parle de leur imagination; c’est de leur goût qu’il faut parler. Lui seul régloit toutes leurs opérations.
Appliquant leur discernement à ce qui étoit beau, convenable [plutôt] qu’à ce qui étoit etc. Leurs philosophes même n’étoient que de beaux écrivains dont le goût étoit plus austère.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1804
p. 6806February 9.
The ancients almost never knew quite distinctly what they thought. They dug little into their minds, occupied with the care of speaking well. They were content with the pleasure their own words gave them, seeking in reflection only what beauty they could obtain for themselves through it. People speak of their imagination; it is their taste one must speak of. It alone governed all their operations.
Applying their discernment to what was beautiful, fitting [rather] than to what was etc. Even their philosophers were only beautiful writers whose taste was more austere.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1804 · Entry 3403
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.