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 1809 of 4529
YEAR 1808 · Entry 5590
French
p. 361727 février.
Les organes sont nécessaires à l’intelligence pour se manifester, mais non pour exister. C’est ainsi que la voix, l’écriture ou la main sont nécessaires au musicien. Des amateurs éclairés et qui ne peuvent être qu’amateurs sont pour ainsi dire en toutes choses ce que seroit pour son art [un musicien] né muët et sans mains, mais qui auroit l’oreille excellente. Le talent ou le don de montrer ce en quoi l’on excelle dépend de l’organisation, mais le génie et le goût viennent de l’âme telle que Dieu l’a faite avant le corps.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1808
p. 3618February 27.
Organs are necessary for intelligence to manifest itself, but not to exist. Thus voice, writing, or the hand are necessary to the musician. Enlightened amateurs who can only be amateurs are, so to speak, in all things what [a musician] born mute and without hands, but with an excellent ear, would be in his art. The talent or gift of showing what one excels in depends on bodily organization, but genius and taste come from the soul as God made it before the body.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1808 · Entry 5590
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.