Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II

Name: The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Author: Joseph Joubert

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume IIYEAR 1815 · Entry 7434

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English Page · Branch 3653 of 4529

YEAR 1815 · Entry 7434

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 7305

Pétrarque, et Laure dont il adora non pas la personne mais l’image pendant trente ans, tant il est plus facile de conserver ses sentimens que ses sensations. C’est ce qui faisoit la fidélité des anciens chevaliers.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1815

p. 7306

Petrarch, and Laura, whose image he adored for thirty years, not her person—so much easier is it to preserve one’s feelings than one’s sensations. That is what made the fidelity of the knights of old.

T273.The nominal opening, person/image opposition, thirty-year duration and feelings/sensations comparison remain. English moves image before the contrasting person and uses a dash to make the long French relative relation readable; neither change supplies source wording. The final past fidelity claim is retained as Joubert’s interpretation, with no independently verified biography or medieval generalization added.

T624.The comma before et, relative dont, past adora, non pas/mais contrast, thirty years, degree tant, comparative relation and imperfect faisoit remain. Sentimens retains its historical ending and is distinct from sensations. The che-/valiers wrap is complete. No modern spelling or external biographical explanation is inserted. The bounded independent comparison of Ouï, interressé, capital Ames, complete dates and named right-edge contours agrees with the qualified readings. The complete color crop supports plain capital Ames; the narrower native crop clips the top of A and cannot establish that upper-mark reading alone.

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.