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 460 of 4529
YEAR 1805 · Entry 4241
French
p. 91930 septembre.
Escamotter. — Platon : il escamotte. Substituant par ses raisonnemens, en parlant d’une chose, ce qui n’en est que l’apparence à ce qui en est la vérité. Il dérobe véritablement l’objet dont il est question, tantôt en le soustrayant au toucher quand on avoit la main dessus, pour ne l’exposer qu’à la vuë; tantôt en le soustrayant aux yeux même pour n’en occuper que l’esprit. Ses tours de phraze sont de vrais tours de gobelets... Un langage extraordinaire...
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1805
p. 920September 30.
To conjure away. — Plato: he conjures away. Substituting through his reasonings, when speaking of a thing, what is only its appearance for what is its truth. He truly steals away the object in question, now withdrawing it from touch when one had one’s hand upon it, to expose it only to sight; now withdrawing it even from the eyes, to occupy only the mind with it. His turns of phrase are true cup tricks... An extraordinary language...
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1805 · Entry 4241
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.