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Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume IIYEAR 1807 · Entry 5312

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Facing Pages · Branch 1531 of 4529

YEAR 1807 · Entry 5312

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French

p. 3061
Comme il y a quelquefois du parlé dans la musique... Et le vers prosaïque, mis en sa place, est poëtique et bon, pourvu qu’il exprime une pensée, un sentiment, un mouvement ou un repos qui ne soient pas vulgaires. Et si cet état dure, il faut que l’homme meure est un vers de ce genre. Il n’est certes pas prosaïque par sa matière, je veux dire par l’opinion qu’il contient, au contraire!
3061

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1807

p. 3062

As there is sometimes speech in music... And the prosaic verse, put in its place, is poetic and good, provided it expresses a thought, a feeling, a movement, or a repose that is not common. And if this state endures, then man must die is a verse of this kind. It is certainly not prosaic in its matter, I mean in the opinion it contains, quite the contrary!

3062

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.