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 1375 of 4529
YEAR 1807 · Entry 5156
French
p. 2749De la matière poëtique — et que — il faut qu’elle soit ou transparente ou sonore, ou artistement travaillée; qu’ainsi toute matière peut devenir poëtique, si elle est taillée, polie et disposée comme la pierre l’est dans les édifices qui sont beaux. Le poëte peut donc construire avec de l’air ou des métaux, avec du phosphore ou des sons, avec du fer, avec du marbre, de la brique même s’il lui plaît, avec de l’argile, pourvu qu’il ait le talent de la bien mouler. Il fera toujours un bon ouvrage, s’il scait être décorateur dans les détails et architecte dans l’ensemble : car tous les autres arts doivent s’associer au sien.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1807
p. 2750Of poetic matter — and that — it must be either transparent or sonorous, or artfully worked; that thus all matter can become poetic if it is cut, polished, and arranged as stone is in buildings that are beautiful. The poet can therefore build with air or metals, with phosphorus or sounds, with iron, with marble, even brick if he pleases, with clay, provided he has the talent to mold it well. He will always make a good work if he knows how to be a decorator in the details and an architect in the whole: for all the other arts must join with his.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1807 · Entry 5156
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.