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 869 of 4529
Mr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné. · Entry 4650
French
p. 1737Samedi 7 juin.
(Journal de l’Empire du même jour. Feuilleton : commentaire sur Corneille, signé Z.) « Il faut scavoir avouer (disoit Voltaire) que c’est un art qui manque d’art. A la bonne heure (dit poliment M. Delalot); mais il faut scavoir avouer que Ronsard et Chapelain n’ont jamais écrit un vers qui soit d’un jargon aussi barbare que le jargon de cette prose. » Mʳ Delalot se récrie. Il voudroit plus d’harmonie dans cette phraze. Il y trouve un jargon barbare. Le même critique dit à la fin de son article : « L’analyse journalière de ses pièces prouve que cette maxime » (frapper fort plutôt que frapper juste) « a été le fondement de son théâtre comme de sa critique; et (ajoute-t-il) c’en est assés pour que ses admirateurs, s’ils veulent ouvrir les yeux, puissent juger de la bonté de l’un et de la solidité de l’autre. » Remarquez bien (et dans un tel critique) la perfection de ce galimathias grammatical.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: Mr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné.
p. 1738Saturday, June 7.
(Journal de l’Empire of the same day. Feuilleton: commentary on Corneille, signed Z.) “One must know how to admit (Voltaire said) that it is an art that lacks art. Very well (Mr. Delalot says politely); but one must know how to admit that Ronsard and Chapelain never wrote a line in jargon as barbarous as the jargon of this prose.” Mr. Delalot cries out in protest. He would like more harmony in this sentence. He finds barbarous jargon in it. The same critic says at the end of his article: “The daily analysis of his plays proves that this maxim” (strike hard rather than strike true) “has been the foundation of his theater as of his criticism; and (he adds) that is enough for his admirers, if they wish to open their eyes, to judge the excellence of the one and the soundness of the other.” Observe closely (and in such a critic) the perfection of this grammatical gibberish.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · Mr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné. · Entry 4650
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.