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 1848 of 4529
YEAR 1808 · Entry 5629
French
p. 369517 mars.
Voltaire eut l’art du style familier et n’excella dans aucun autre. Il donna au premier toutes les formes, tout l’agrément et même toute la beauté dont il peut être susceptible. Il y fit entrer tous les genres, ce qui fit croire à son siècle abusé qu’il avoit excellé dans tous.
Ceux qui l’ont loué de son goût confondent perpétuellement le goût et l’agrément. On ne le goûte point, mais on l’admire. Il égaye, il éblouit. C’est la mobilité de l’esprit qu’il flatte, et non le goût.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1808
p. 3696March 17.
Voltaire possessed the art of familiar style and excelled in no other. He gave the former all the forms, all the charm, and even all the beauty of which it can be capable. He brought all genres into it, which led his deceived age to believe he had excelled in them all.
Those who have praised his taste perpetually confuse taste and charm. One does not savor him, but admires him. He enlivens, he dazzles. It is the mobility of the mind he flatters, not taste.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1808 · Entry 5629
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.