Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II

Name: The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Author: Joseph Joubert

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume IIYEAR 1814 · Entry 6890

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French Page · Branch 3109 of 4529

YEAR 1814 · Entry 6890

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 6217

1ᵉʳ février.

Quaecumque vera, quaecumque casta quaecumque justa, quaecumque sancta, quaecumque amabilia, quaecumque bonæ famæ; si qua virtus, si qua laus disciplinæ : haec cogitate. (Ad. Philipp IV.) Un scavoir qui soit chaste, une justice qui soit sainte (c’est à dire exempte des passions humaines), une amabilité qui se fasse honorer, enfin des vertus sans rudesse (ou polies par tout ce que peuvent y ajouter les coutumes humaines, doctrines, etc.) voilà ce que recommande ici l’apôtre et voilà certes une admirable morale!

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1814

p. 6218

February 1.

Whatever is true, whatever is chaste, whatever is just, whatever is holy, whatever is lovable, whatever is of good repute; if there is any virtue, if there is any praise of discipline: think on these things. (To the Philippians IV.) A knowledge that is chaste, a justice that is holy (that is, free of human passions), a lovableness that wins honor for itself, finally virtues without roughness (or polished by all that human customs, doctrines, etc. can add to them), that is what the apostle recommends here, and that is certainly an admirable morality!

T31.The Latin receives a fresh translation in its printed sequence, keeping six Whatever phrases, two if clauses and the imperative. Compare Philippians IV.8 in the Clementine Vulgate: the directly read witness includes an introductory phrase and sunt, and has pudica where Joubert prints casta. The translation follows Joubert’s excerpt. The bounded control covers IV.4–9, not a whole epistle or original Bible image. The following knowledge/justice/lovableness interpretation remains Joubert’s separate application within the same paragraph. Roughness and polished preserve the tactile analogy. The whole English Latin-derived passage through think on these things. is italic, while its parenthetic attribution is roman. English separates the repeated whatever clauses with commas; no comma is inserted into the French after intact casta. The colon before think on these things preserves the printed connection between the two if clauses and the command.

T355.The first day and raised er remain legible. The full Latin through cogitate. is italic, and (Ad. Philipp IV.) is roman. Quaecumque and haec retain separate a/e forms, while bonæ/famæ/disciplinæ retain their ligatures. No comma is visible after casta; the printed order and the forms justa/disciplinæ are not repaired from an external witness. The abraded qua/Un/exempte/enfin/ajouter and wrapped mande beginnings remain identifiable, with no complete word inferred from marginal noise. Both parentheses, repeated voilà and final exclamation remain.

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.