Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
English Page · Branch 1283 of 4529
YEAR 1807 · Entry 5064
French
p. 256516 février.
Ch. D[elalot], Z. — Cet homme s’est trouvé une tête propre à loger les idées de Mʳ de Bonald. Il n’en est que l’écho et croit être une voix. Tout ce qu’il dit de bon quand il ne répète rien n’est qu’un prolongement d’ébranlement causé par le mouvement donné d’abord. — Même quand il parle tout seul, il retentit. Mais aussi on sent plus le bourdonnement. Bourdonnement qui toutefois est fortement articulé. Car cet écho est singulier, il parle plus distinctement, plus hautement que la voix qui l’a animé.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1807
p. 2566February 16.
Ch. D[elalot], Z. — This man has found himself a head suited to housing the ideas of Mr. de Bonald. He is only their echo and believes himself a voice. Everything good he says when he is repeating nothing is only a prolongation of the vibration caused by the movement first imparted. — Even when he speaks all alone, he resounds. But then one also senses the buzzing more. A buzzing that is, however, strongly articulated. For this echo is peculiar: it speaks more distinctly, more loudly than the voice that animated it.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1807 · Entry 5064
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.