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 2217 of 4529
YEAR 1809 · Entry 5998
French
p. 4433L’esprit faux est toujours faux et faux en tout, comme un œil louche regarde toujours de travers. Au reste, on n’a l’esprit faux que […]orsque l’on a le cœur faux.
L’esprit faux est toujours un esprit menteur, qui se ment à lui même et qui ment aux autres. L’esprit sincère ne peut jamais être un esprit faux.
L’esprit faux est un esprit louche qui tend à quelque but où il n’a pas l’air de viser.
L’esprit faux est un esprit enveloppé qui ne veut pas se laisser voir ni pénétrer.
L’esprit franc est un esprit vrai, qui est l’opposé de l’esprit faux.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1809
p. 4434The false mind is always false and false in everything, as a squinting eye always looks askew. Besides, one has a false mind only […]orsque one has a false heart.
The false mind is always a lying mind, which lies to itself and lies to others. The sincere mind can never be a false mind.
The false mind is a squinting mind that tends toward some goal at which it does not appear to aim.
The false mind is an enveloped mind that does not wish to let itself be seen or penetrated.
The frank mind is a true mind, which is the opposite of the false mind.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1809 · Entry 5998
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.