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 1173 of 4529
Mr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné. · Entry 4954
French
p. 234530 décembre.
La forme, en effet, est ce qui distingue une chose de toutes les autres, ce qui sépare le singulier de l’universel et le fait exister à part. Et la plus belle forme est celle qui, détachant le plus nettement une chose des autres, la laisse cependant le mieux en harmonie avec le tout.
Quelquefois la qualité peut tenir lieu de forme pour distinguer une matière de toute autre. Par exemple, un morceau d’or ou de diamant incrustés dans un mur s’en détachent par leur éclat.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: Mr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné.
p. 2346December 30.
Form, indeed, is what distinguishes a thing from all others, what separates the singular from the universal and makes it exist apart. And the most beautiful form is the one that, setting a thing apart from others most distinctly, nevertheless leaves it most in harmony with the whole.
Sometimes quality can take the place of form in distinguishing one material from every other. For example, a piece of gold or diamond inlaid in a wall stands out from it by its brilliance.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · Mr. Hochet and Mme de Sévigné. · Entry 4954
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.