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 2102 of 4529
YEAR 1809 · Entry 5883
French
p. 420314 février.
On pourroit parodier aisément ces Messieurs et demander par exemple : — Monsieur, quel est le degré de jouïssance et de bonheur que... l’homme cultivé peut se procurer dans votre département? Y a-t-il quelque conflit d’intérêts, de préjugés et de ressentimens... dont puisse naître une aigreur qui trouble la vie sociale? La civilisation est elle avancée parmi les bourgeois? Les habitans de Paris qui se sont retirés parmi vous abusent ils des avantages que peuvent leur offrir la prépondérance de leur civilisation, leur astuce et l’autorité que leur donne leur bonne mine?
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1809
p. 4204February 14.
One could easily parody these Gentlemen and ask, for example: — Sir, what is the degree of enjoyment and happiness that... a cultivated man can obtain in your department? Is there some conflict of interests, prejudices, and resentments... from which a bitterness might arise that disturbs social life? Is civilization advanced among the bourgeois? Do the inhabitants of Paris who have retired among you abuse the advantages that the superiority of their civilization, their cunning, and the authority their fine appearance gives them can offer them?
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1809 · Entry 5883
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.