Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition

Joseph Joubert

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II

Name: The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II
Author: Joseph Joubert

Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.

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The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume IIYEAR 1808 · Entry 5731

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English Page · Branch 1950 of 4529

YEAR 1808 · Entry 5731

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 3899

Le corps obéit à l’âme lorsque l’âme obéit à Dieu; et au contraire « Estant bien raisonnable (disoit le Cardinal de Richelieu) que c[…] qui manque à son supérieur soit tourmenté par ce qui est au dessous de lui. » (Vid. Perfection chrétienne, page 4, in 4°.)

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1808

p. 3900

The body obeys the soul when the soul obeys God; and conversely “It being quite reasonable (Cardinal de Richelieu said) that c[…] which fails in duty to its superior should be tormented by what is below it.” (See Perfection chrétienne, page 4, quarto.)

T269.The quotation retains its dependent It being construction. The surviving c[…] remains French residue. Which, its, and it follow a neutral reading supported by the body-and-soul context; the damaged word could also allow a personal construction, which remains unresolved. No lost letters are supplied. The exact quoted passage in Richelieu has not been independently located. The abbreviated Vid. is translated See, and in 4° as quarto. The printed reference remains part of the main paragraph, not a source footnote.

T631.The right margin clips the continuation after au contraire and after the c beginning the quoted referent; no further punctuation or ending of that referent is supplied. Ce or celui cannot be certified from the surviving c alone. Dessous spans a damaged line end; its reading is qualified from des and the next-line sous. Estant, Cardinal and the parenthetical reference remain roman; the reference is part of the main paragraph, not apparatus.

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.