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 1811 of 4529
YEAR 1808 · Entry 5592
French
p. 3621Ce n’est pas tant ce qui est dit que celui qui parle, manifesté par ses paroles, qui intéresse dans les écrits de Fénelon. Ses paroles semblables à ses pensées et ses pensées semblables à son âme (comme je l’ai exigé ailleurs) sont le charme qui attache à ses ouvrages, qui flattent plus le sentiment que l’attention; et dont le souvenir est encore plus agréable que la lecture parce que c’est l’impression qu’elles font et non pas la science qu’elles donnent qui rend délicieuses ses opinions.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1808
p. 3622It is not so much what is said as the speaker, manifested by his words, that interests us in Fénelon’s writings. His words resembling his thoughts and his thoughts resembling his soul (as I have required elsewhere) are the charm that binds one to his works, which flatter feeling more than attention; and the memory of them is still more agreeable than reading them because it is the impression they make and not the knowledge they give that makes his opinions delightful.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1808 · Entry 5592
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.