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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Facing Pages · Branch 159 of 4529
YEAR 1805 · Entry 3940
French
p. 31716 février.
Dans le tempéré et dans tout ce qui est inférieur, on dépend malgré soi des temps où l’on vit et malgré qu’on en ait on parle comme tous ses contemporains. Mais, dans le beau et le sublime et dans tout ce qui y participe en quelque sorte que ce soit, on sort des temps, on ne dépend d’aucun, et dans quelque siècle qu’on vive on peut être parfait; seulement avec plus de peine en certains temps que dans les autres.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1805
p. 318February 16.
In the temperate and in all that is lower, one depends despite oneself on the times in which one lives, and however unwillingly one speaks like all one’s contemporaries. But in the beautiful and the sublime, and in all that partakes of them in any way whatever, one leaves the times behind, depends on none, and in whatever century one lives one can be perfect; only with more difficulty in certain times than in others.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1805 · Entry 3940
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.