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 1923 of 4529
YEAR 1808 · Entry 5704
French
p. 384529 avril.
Il faut (sic) cent fois mieux assortir un ouvrage à la nature de l’esprit humain qu’à ce qu’ils appellent l’état de la société. Il y a quelque chose d’immuable dans l’homme et c’est pour cela qu’il y a aussi des règles immuables dans les arts, et dans les ouvrages de l’art des beautés qui plairont toujours ou des arangemens qui ne plairont que peu de temps.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1808
p. 3846April 29.
One must (sic) fit a work a hundred times better to the nature of the human mind than to what they call the state of society. There is something immutable in man, and that is why there are also immutable rules in the arts, and in works of art beauties that will always please or arrangements that will please only for a little while.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1808 · Entry 5704
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.