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 2096 of 4529
YEAR 1809 · Entry 5877
French
p. 419121 janvier.
Les passions ont leurs verres colorés; la raison a ses verres blancs; la sagesse a aussi ses prismes dont l’effet consiste à embellir ce qui est beau et à enlaidir ce qui est laid. Illusion meilleure que la simple réalité, car elle nous induit dans la pratique à une rectitude plus parfaite. Elle nous fait mieux distinguer le but moral, véritable point objectif.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1809
p. 4192January 21.
The passions have their colored lenses; reason has its clear lenses; wisdom too has its prisms, whose effect consists in beautifying what is beautiful and making ugly what is ugly. An illusion better than simple reality, for in practice it leads us to a more perfect rectitude. It makes us distinguish the moral goal more clearly, the true point of aim.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1809 · Entry 5877
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.