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 1819 · Entry 7995

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English Page · Branch 4214 of 4529

YEAR 1819 · Entry 7995

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 8427

Les gens de bien de toute espèce, faciles à tromper, parce qu’aimant beaucoup le bien, et l’aimant même passionnément, ils croyent facilement tout ce qui leur en donne l’espérance, comme le changement, le repentir (et, comme [on] dit, la conversion) de leurs adversaires.

Ceux qui aiment le désordre ont une méchanceté qui les rend au contraire peu susceptibles de se tromper en prenant pour ami leurs adversaires naturels. Quiconque n’est pas évidemment fol ou méchant comme eux leur est suspect. Ils ont contre la probité et sa modération un sentiment d’aversion qui est infaillible.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1819

p. 8428

Good people of every kind, easy to deceive because, loving the good greatly and loving it even passionately, they readily believe everything that gives them hope of it, such as the change, the repentance (and, as [one] says, the conversion) of their adversaries.

Those who love disorder have a wickedness that, on the contrary, makes them little liable to deceive themselves by taking their natural adversaries for a friend. Whoever is not obviously mad or wicked like them is suspect to them. Against probity and its moderation they have a feeling of aversion that is infallible.

T19.The nominal opening, every/everything, even, the repeated loving formulations and degree of love and three signs of change remain. [One] corresponds to the source editor’s printed [on], not a reconstruction of image loss. The hope’s object remains the good. French retains the literal spelling croyent; the printed [on] and its English [one] remain roman.

T128.Two paragraphs remain separate. The first nominal opening, repeated aimant, degree words and literal croyent remain. [on] is a printed roman source-editor supplement, not a reproduction loss; all wrap endings are complete. The second paragraph preserves singular ami with plural adversaires, literal fol, both negative/restrictive qualifications and reflexive se tromper. Mé-/chant is a complete wrap, with a small adjacent artifact not an extra letter or mark.

T20.The contrary, little-liable qualification, reflexive error, natural opponents and singular friend remain. Both mad and wicked, obviously, probity/moderation and the severe infallible judgment remain without softening the source. Mad renders the literal French fol; singular ami is preserved by a friend although adversaires is plural.

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.