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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French Page · Branch 270 of 4529
YEAR 1805 · Entry 4051
French
p. 539Le chapitre de Longin qui a pour titre « que les figures ont besoin du sublime ». Les figures ont besoin du sublime, comme le feu a besoin de l’air, comme l’air a besoin de l’espace. Il n’est peut être pas vrai que les figures ont besoin de sublime précisément; mais elles ont au moins besoin de l’idéal, d’un certain vaste dans les idées. Sans cela, elles n’ont pas de lieu, de place convenable. On les met dans le plein, où rien ne les dessine et ne les fait valoir, où elles sont pour ainsi dire un trop. Quand donc vous voulez employer une figure, faites lui et préparez lui d’abord une région. Région est le mot convenable ici.
Au reste je soupçonne que le titre de Longin est plus ample et meilleur que son chapitre. Je vais le voir.
P. S. Le chapitre n’est pas mauvais, mais le titre vaut mieux.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1805
p. 540Longinus’s chapter entitled “that figures need the sublime.” Figures need the sublime as fire needs air, as air needs space. It may not be true that figures need sublimity precisely; but they need at least the ideal, a certain vastness in ideas. Without that, they have no place, no suitable space. They are put into what is full, where nothing outlines them or shows them to advantage, where they are, so to speak, a too much. So when you wish to use a figure, first make and prepare a region for it. Region is the suitable word here.
Besides, I suspect that Longinus’s title is more ample and better than his chapter. I am going to see.
P. S. The chapter is not bad, but the title is worth more.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1805 · Entry 4051
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.