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 800 of 4529
Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered… · Entry 4581
French
p. 159923 avril.
Chacun y parloit de son art. Le peintre y parloit de tableaux, le prêtre des traditions, l’érudit des anciens auteurs, le militaire des batailles. C’est alors que la société étoit une école instructive. — De son art, non de ses ouvrages; des tableaux célèbres, et non pas des siens. - Et seulement par nécessité et à propos. — Aujourd’hui, l’artiste aime à parler de guerres, le militaire de tableaux, le sçavant des modes nouvelles et le prêtre de petits vers.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered…
p. 1600April 23.
Each spoke there of his art. The painter spoke of paintings, the priest of traditions, the scholar of ancient authors, the soldier of battles. It was then that society was an instructive school. — Of his art, not of his works; of famous paintings, not of his own. - And only as necessary and to the point. — Today the artist likes to speak of wars, the soldier of paintings, the learned man of new fashions, and the priest of little verses.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered… · Entry 4581
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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.