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 IIUNDATED · Entry 8301

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English Page · Branch 4520 of 4529

UNDATED · Entry 8301

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 9039

61 (Verso du même feuillet.)

I. Les opérations de l’âme ne s’expriment que par les mêmes termes qui expriment celles du corps, et ses diverses parties n’ont point d’autres dénominations que celles de nos divers membres.

II. Il n’y a point de forme dans les divers instrumens de la méchanique qui ne se trouve dans le corps humain. Et nous n’exécutons rien par cette voie que notre corps n’exécute à notre inscu dans nos divers mouvemens par une méthode beaucoup plus prompte et beaucoup plus parfaite.

III. Il n’y a de beaux dans les mouvemens humains que ceux qui tendent à la conservation.

IV. Si l’espèce humaine venoit à s’anéantir tout à coup et qu’il ne restât qu’un seul homme pour lui survivre, quelle seroit la position de cet homme?.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: UNDATED

p. 9040

61 (Reverse of the same leaf.)

I. The operations of the soul are expressed only by the same terms that express those of the body, and its various parts have no names other than those of our various members.

II. There is no form in the various instruments of mechanics that is not found in the human body. And we accomplish nothing by this means that our body does not accomplish, unknown to us, in our various movements by a method much swifter and much more perfect.

III. The only beautiful human movements are those that tend toward preservation.

IV. If the human species were suddenly to annihilate itself and only a single man remained to survive it, what would that man’s position be?.

T105.The Roman numeral, exclusive only, repeated express and various, and its/our distinction remain. Members preserves the anatomical sense without making it a claim about a social group.

T246.In the French source, printed item 61 has four separate Roman-numbered main paragraphs. The numeral labels and all body text are roman. Literal instrumens, méchanique, inscu and mouvemens remain; no missing words or inferred physiological explanation. The final sequence is question mark, raised call 2, then a separate baseline period, directly visible in color/native. Stored ?. preserves both baseline marks with the call anchored after homme? before the period. No punctuation intent is asserted.

T106.The two negative universals, instruments/body relation, repeated accomplish, unknown to us and repeated much remain. No modern physiological proof is claimed. French retains instrumens, méchanique, inscu and mouvemens. All four Roman-numbered paragraphs and their numerals are roman; the numbering is part of the main text.

T107.The exclusive only and purpose-directed tend toward remain. The source does not specify the object of preservation, so the translation does not add self.

S2.Source editor’s annotationThis too: “1. Man has memory... 2. Feeling is only prolonged sensation.” Is not all this (and what precedes) a summary of Condillac?

T108.The hypothetical, suddenly, single survivor and question remain. The printed question mark, raised source call 2 and separate baseline period occur in that order. English ?. retains both baseline marks, with the call between them; no punctuation intention is inferred. The Roman numeral and complete body are roman.

T111.The internal Arabic numbering remains within one source-note paragraph. The first fragment’s French n’a de la mémoire... leaves its ne construction unfinished; the English stops after memory without supplying either a completing negative or an only restriction. The source editor’s Condillac attribution remains a question. Both Arabic numbers are inline and roman, as is the whole annotation. The quoted terminal period already lies inside the French closing guillemet; the following question remains outside. No source quotation or missing negation is completed.

T247.In the French source, one complete roman source note contains inline Arabic 1/2, not separate paragraphs. Literal n’a de la mémoire... leaves the ne construction incomplete in the quoted material; no pas or que is supplied. The terminal attribution remains a source-editor question.

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.