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 1817 · Entry 7784

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French Page · Branch 4003 of 4529

YEAR 1817 · Entry 7784

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 8005

Ce qui est observé dans le M-zv-ll-n, que « les véritables bons mots surprennent autant ceux qui les font que ceux qui les écoutent ». Ils naissent en nous malgré nous ou du moins sans notre participation volontaire, comme tout ce qui est inspiré. (Vid. loc. cit. à propos de Mme de Cornuël.)

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1817

p. 8006

What is observed in the M-zv-ll-n, that “true witticisms surprise those who make them as much as those who hear them.” They are born in us despite ourselves, or at least without our voluntary participation, like everything inspired. (See the passage cited, concerning Mrs. de Cornuël.)

T89.The opening dependent formulation and complete quotation remain. The opaque cited title is retained, and See the passage cited translates Vid. loc. cit. without creating an invented link. Despite/or-at-least, voluntary and the birth metaphor remain. English places the quoted full stop inside the quotation, whereas the source prints it outside.

T203.The opaque baseline M-zv-ll-n and its punctuation remain without expansion. Cornuël has two raised e components; Mme is baseline. The unexpanded Vid. loc. cit. reference remains roman and unidentified. The source’s nominal opening/que construction, relative groups, autant comparison, concessive alternatives and quoted wording remain. In the French source, the quote’s terminal point is outside its closing guillemet; the reference’s point is inside the final parenthesis.

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.