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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English Page · Branch 1498 of 4529
YEAR 1807 · Entry 5279
French
p. 29956 mai.
Esprits semblables à ces miroirs convexes ou concaves, qui représentent les objets tels qu’ils les reçoivent; mais ne les reçoivent jamais tels qu’ils sont. Car leur surface allonge ou élargit tout ce qui se peint dans leur fond. D’autres miroirs, sans altérer les formes, altèrent les couleurs. Ainsi il est des esprits courbes, des esprits colorés ou colorans. Si parmi ceux ci quelques uns réunissoient, dans les images qu’ils présentent, l’embellissement à l’exactitude, ils seroient les plus précieux et, j’ose dire, les meilleurs.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1807
p. 2996May 6.
Minds like those convex or concave mirrors that represent objects as they receive them, but never receive them as they are. For their surface lengthens or widens everything pictured in their depths. Other mirrors, without altering forms, alter colors. Thus there are curved minds, colored or coloring minds. If some of these combined embellishment with accuracy in the images they present, they would be the most precious and, I dare say, the best.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1807 · Entry 5279
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.