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 1239 of 4529
YEAR 1807 · Entry 5020
French
p. 2477Il y a telle pensée qui contient l’essence d’un livre tout entier; telle phraze qui a les beautés d’un vaste ouvrage; telle unité qui équivaut à un nombre; enfin telle simplicité si achevée et si parfaite qu’elle égale en mérite et en excellence une grande et glorieuse composition.
— Comme un peu de lumière vaut mieux que beaucoup d’éclat, un peu d’air que beaucoup de vapeurs, un peu d’eau que beaucoup de boue.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1807
p. 2478There is a thought that contains the essence of an entire book; a sentence that has the beauties of a vast work; a unity that is equivalent to a number; finally, a simplicity so finished and so perfect that it equals a great and glorious composition in merit and excellence.
— As a little light is better than much radiance, a little air than much vapor, a little water than much mud.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1807 · Entry 5020
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.