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 3051 of 4529
According to Plato · Entry 6832
French
p. 61018 décembre.
Toucher ou atteindre. — Tout ce qui place entre un objet et nous quelque intervalle, tout ce qui nous resserre ou tout ce qui grossit trop le trait, le rend obtus, rond ou quarré, en un mot peu insinuant; enfin tout ce qui nuit à l’accueil et à l’ouverture, d’une part, aux approches, à l’accès et à la pénétration de l’autre, tout cela dis-je ne permet pas d’être touchant.
Toucher ou atteindre. Atteindre au goût, atteindre à l’âme; toucher le cœur, toucher les sens; ou entrer dans l’esprit, contenter la raison, etc. Contenter la raison, enchanter l’attention et réjouir le goût.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: According to Plato
p. 6102December 8.
To touch or reach. — Everything that puts some distance between an object and us, everything that makes us draw inward or everything that makes the stroke too thick, makes it blunt, round or square—in a word, not very insinuating; finally, everything that hinders reception and opening on the one hand, approach, access and penetration on the other, all this, I say, prevents it from being touching.
To touch or reach. To reach taste, to reach the soul; to touch the heart, to touch the senses; or to enter the mind, satisfy reason, etc. To satisfy reason, enchant attention and delight taste.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · According to Plato · Entry 6832
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.