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 58 of 3781
YEAR 1784 · Entry 58
French
p. 115ANNÉE 1784
XI
Quand ils disent que l’art est une imitation, ils le définissent par son procédé ou sa manière d’opérer et non par son objet. J’aimerois encore mieux dire que l’art est une multiplication car alors je le définirois par son effet et son utilité. L’art en effet n’existe que pour multiplier les choses qui émeuvent nos sens en nous les représentant, et il n’est utile qu’en multipliant autour de nous les belles choses, c’est à dire les choses qui nous émeuvent agréablement, utilement, délicieusement et de manière à nous rendre heureux.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1784
p. 116YEAR 1784
No individual date printed
XI
When they say that art is an imitation, they define it by its procedure or manner of operating, and not by its object. I would prefer to say that art is a multiplication, for then I would define it by its effect and its usefulness. Art in fact exists only to multiply the things that move our senses by representing them to us, and it is useful only in multiplying beautiful things around us: that is, things that move us agreeably, usefully, delightfully, and in a way that makes us happy.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1784 · Entry 58
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.