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 95 of 4529
YEAR 1805 · Entry 3876
French
p. 189« Il (Dieu) prend l’homme par où il la formé. » L’expression est bien belle. « Il sçait que les sens et l’imagination sont une partie de son être : il ne dédaigne pas de régner sur l’imagination. Il a rempli ses prophètes de poësie. » Que tout cela est bien dit! Cet homme a le ridicule d’être en littérature un véritable Tertulien, mais au moins il a quelquefois le talent et les beautés du prêtre de Carthage, inflammable et vif comme un Affricain. — Tertulien écrivant sur la poësie...
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1805
p. 190“He (God) takes hold of man through that by which he formed him.” The expression is very beautiful. “He knows that the senses and imagination are a part of his being: he does not disdain to reign over the imagination. He has filled his prophets with poetry.” How well all that is said! This man is ridiculous in being a true Tertullian in literature, but at least he sometimes has the talent and the beauties of the priest of Carthage, inflammable and lively as an African. — Tertullian writing on poetry...
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1805 · Entry 3876
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.