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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French Page · Branch 140 of 4529
YEAR 1805 · Entry 3921
French
p. 279De la force? dites-vous. Lucain en a montré plus que Virgile et Sénèque plus que Platon. Le plus haïssable des écrivains. L. L. même, n’en manque pas; et Linguet en a eu. Brebœuf en eut plus que Racine. La sagesse modère la sienne et la puissance est une force qui est cachée. N. écrivit avec un sabre, et N. N. avec un bâton. Il me semble que G. écrit avec des éguilles à tricotter ou des poinçons à cheveux.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1805
p. 280Strength? you say. Lucan showed more of it than Virgil, and Seneca more than Plato. The most hateful of writers. Even L. L., does not lack it; and Linguet had it. Brebœuf had more of it than Racine. Wisdom moderates its own, and power is a strength that is hidden. N. wrote with a saber, and N. N. with a stick. It seems to me that G. writes with knitting needles or hair bodkins.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1805 · Entry 3921
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.