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 1441 of 4529
YEAR 1807 · Entry 5222
French
p. 2881Ce sont les pensées seules qui dans un ouvrage montrent l’homme, non tout entier, mais par la tête et le visage, si je puis ainsi m’exprimer. Le reste ne fait voir que les mains.
Ce sont les pensées seules, les pensées prises isolément, qui caractérisent un écrivain. On a raison de les nommer des traits et de les citer. Elles montrent la tête et le visage pour ainsi dire. Le reste ne fait voir que les mains.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1807
p. 2882It is thoughts alone that show the man in a work, not whole, but by the head and face, if I may so express myself. The rest shows only the hands.
It is thoughts alone, thoughts taken in isolation, that characterize a writer. One is right to call them features and to quote them. They show the head and face, so to speak. The rest shows only the hands.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1807 · Entry 5222
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.