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 1811 · Entry 6155

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Facing Pages · Branch 2374 of 4529

YEAR 1811 · Entry 6155

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 4747

21 mars.

Il lui prend alors (à Voltaire) un certain tourbillon d’esprit. Il fait entendre un tel carillon de paroles qu’on ne scait plus où l’on en est ni ce qu’il dit; mais cependant ce bruit et ce mouvement amusent.

Il faut quelque attention pour distinguer nettement ces petits phénomènes; mais quand on s’est exercé à y prendre garde, on s’en aperçoit très facilement.

La capriole, la gambade, l’éclusée (?) ou le carillon, comme j’ai dit, des précipitations périodiques et presque involontaires, sont des caractères auxquels on ne tarde jamais longtemps à reconnoître cet esprit vif et plus vif qu’il ne le falloit.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1811

p. 4748

March 21.

A certain whirlwind of mind then seizes him (Voltaire). He makes such a peal of words heard that one no longer knows where one is or what he is saying; but yet this noise and this movement amuse.

Some attention is needed to distinguish these little phenomena clearly; but when one has practiced taking notice of them, one perceives them very easily.

The caper, the gambol, the sluice discharge (?) or the peal, as I have said, periodic and almost involuntary rushes, are characteristics by which one never takes long to recognize that lively mind, livelier than was called for.

T45.The unnamed him is identified in the parenthesis. Whirlwind, peal, noise and movement preserve the succession of images. The listener’s two disorientations remain distinct; no particular Voltaire work is supplied.

T190.Three physical paragraphs remain. Scait has no certified cedilla, and longtemps is unhyphenated. The printed question mark in parentheses follows éclusée; it is not a new editorial question. The third paragraph’s uneven nominal list, comme j’ai dit and comparative ne remain.

T46.Attention and practice retain their different roles; clearly and very easily remain distinct. The phenomena are not given a new technical classification.

T47.Sluice discharge renders éclusée, the water released between opening and reclosing a sluice, as defined in the Académie dictionary of 1762. The printed question mark remains. Caper, gambol and peal preserve the other images; the periodic rushes and the comparative excess are not generalized into mere liveliness.

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.