Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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English Page · Branch 110 of 4529
YEAR 1805 · Entry 3891
French
p. 219Avec du sable on fait des glaces, de la chair avec des couleurs, de la musique avec des bruits d’où l’on a scu tirer des sons. On fait avec le marbre des édifices qui paroissent aëriens; avec de simples formes, on présente à l’esprit plus de solidités que tous les rochers de la terre entassés l’un sur l’autre ne pourroient paroître en avoir.
Les solides sont sur la terre. La solidité est en Dieu, c’est à dire dans son idée. C’est là que l’artiste la prend pour l’appliquer et l’attacher au linge et au papier quand il lui plaît.
Voyez ces statues que les Italiens figurent avec des serviettes et ces colonnes de carton, etc.
La poësie est fantastique. Elle l’est essentiellement, comme le sont tous les beaux arts. Et c’est pour cela qu’ils sont beaux. Car il n’y a de beau que l’idée.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1805
p. 220With sand one makes mirrors, flesh with colors, music with noises from which one has known how to draw sounds. With marble one makes buildings that seem airy; with mere forms one presents to the mind more solidities than all the rocks of the earth, piled one on another, could seem to have.
Solids are on earth. Solidity is in God, that is, in his idea. There the artist takes it, to apply it and attach it to linen and paper when he pleases.
Look at those statues the Italians fashion with napkins, and those columns of cardboard, etc.
Poetry is imaginary. It is so essentially, as are all the fine arts. And that is why they are beautiful. For nothing is beautiful but the idea.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1805 · Entry 3891
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 II continues the notebooks and includes seventy undated pieces. 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.