Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
Explore the LexiconSwipe or use the arrow keys.
French Page · Branch 1875 of 4529
YEAR 1808 · Entry 5656
French
p. 3749La haine a un son doux, quoique le sens en soit affreux. De même, haïr : « je ne puis le haïr ». Affreux est affreux. Il y a dans affreux un accord parfait de sens et de son.
Moi j’en étais haïe et ne puis lui survivre. Mettez : « J’en étois détestée et ne puis... » il y aura dissonance. La douceur du son dans le mot haïe en tempère le sens et adoucit ce qu’il a de rude. De ce mélange de la rigueur du sens et de la douceur du son il ne résulte qu’un mot triste; et les mots tristes sont beaux.The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1808
p. 3750Haine has a soft sound, though its meaning is dreadful. Likewise, haïr: “je ne puis le haïr.” Affreux is dreadful. In affreux there is a perfect accord of meaning and sound.
Moi j’en étais haïe et ne puis lui survivre. Put: “J’en étois détestée et ne puis...” there will be dissonance. The softness of the sound in the word haïe tempers its meaning and softens what is harsh in it. This mixture of rigor in the meaning and softness in the sound yields only a sad word; and sad words are beautiful.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1808 · Entry 5656
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.