Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
French Page · Branch 498 of 4529
YEAR 1805 · Entry 4279
French
p. 995Il y a des formes tellement pures, tellement belles par elles mêmes qu’on peut les employer avec succès vuides ou pleines. Et il y a des matières tellement précieuses par soi qu’il faut les admirer quelle que soit la forme qui les contient. Mais qu’y a-t-il de plus précieux à mettre en œuvre que ce qui est véritablement de l’esprit?
Quand la forme est belle, il faut louer la forme. Et quand c’est la matière, il faut louer la matière. J’entends ici par matière la pensée. Car c’est de livres qu’il s’agit.
« Le style (dit Dussault) est une habitude de l’esprit. » Il a raison. Heureux ceux dans lesquels il est une habitude de l’âme.
Dans Fontanes, le style est une habitude du goût.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1805
p. 996There are forms so pure, so beautiful in themselves that one can use them successfully, empty or full. And there are materials so precious in themselves that one must admire them whatever the form that contains them. But what is more precious to work with than what is truly of the mind?
When the form is beautiful, one must praise the form. And when it is the material, one must praise the material. By material I mean thought here. For it is books that are at issue.
“Style (says Dussault) is a habit of the mind.” He is right. Happy those in whom it is a habit of the soul.
In Fontanes, style is a habit of taste.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1805 · Entry 4279
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.