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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 6239

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French Page · Branch 2458 of 4529

YEAR 1811 · Entry 6239

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 4915

13 décembre.

Un esprit sans beauté et sans bonté et qui s’est exercé à être faux pour être singulier, c’est le traducteur de Bacon (A. Lassale). Je citerai cependant un mot de lui. « Haud raro (dit Bacon) opinio rem et substantiam generat. » Le traducteur observe d’abord qu’il faut pour cela que la chimère mette en jeu et en œuvre quelque réalité et il ajoute : « Il paroît que la nature dans tout le régime animal employe les illusions pour produire les réalités et que les idées sont le principe des plus grands mouvemens de cette classe. » Observation vraie et qui tend à ramener tous les mouvemens de la matière à leur véritable principe qui est l’esprit.

Il s’est aussi exercé à être insultant avec esprit, etc. D’ailleurs, — […] esprit sans bonté et sans beauté, mais non pas sans verve et sans force.

Nota Bene, comme modèle d’une traduction brutale : sæpius excitata et raro peracta (venus), « le prurit non réduit à l’acte ». Quel barbare! — Il dit le etc. souvent excité mais rarement poussé jusqu’à etc. Et il appelle cela un lubrique moyen.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1811

p. 4916

December 13.

A mind without beauty and without goodness, which has trained itself to be false in order to be singular: such is Bacon’s translator (A. Lassale). I shall nevertheless quote a remark of his. “Haud raro (says Bacon) opinio rem et substantiam generat.” The translator first observes that, for this, the chimera must bring some reality into play and into operation, and he adds: “It seems that nature throughout the animal order uses illusions to produce realities and that ideas are the principle of the greatest movements of this class.” A true observation, which tends to bring all the movements of matter back to their true principle, which is mind.

He has also trained himself to be insulting with wit, etc. Besides, — […] mind without goodness and without beauty, but not without verve and force.

Nota Bene, as a model of a brutal translation: sæpius excitata et raro peracta (venus), “the itch not brought to the act.” What a barbarian! — He says the etc. often aroused but rarely pushed as far as etc. And he calls this a lubricious means.

T147.The initial judgment is Joubert’s, followed by nevertheless and the concession of a true observation. The mixed Latin quotation remains, with its inserted says Bacon; literally, not infrequently opinion generates a thing and substance. The chimera and some reality remain contrasting terms, with play and operation separately retained. Mind renders esprit in the closing matter/mind contrast. Animal order is a contextual rendering of régime animal. A close parallel occurs in Bacon’s Sermones fideles, De vana gloria (LII), where haud raro appears in the preceding clause and the following clause uses progignit. Joubert’s shortened wording is retained. Lassale’s exact French quotation remains externally unverified; no outside edition replaces Joubert’s words.

T148.With wit renders the local esprit while mind retains the following characterization. Both paired without phrases and the joined not without verve and force remain. The interrupted Besides and nominal ending are not completed with another predicate. The gap before mind retains the missing source word before esprit; no article or other completion is proposed.

T149.Nota Bene remains Joubert’s own opening within his paragraph. The Latin is retained: literally, more often aroused and rarely carried through (sexual love). Its wording and the two following French renderings stay distinct. Itch retains the deliberately coarse prurit in the sexual context; it is not replaced by a smoother approved rendering. Both etc. interruptions remain uncompleted. Lubricious retains the sexual sense and the harsh evaluation belongs to Joubert. The printed le before the first etc. remains the in English, without supplying its noun. Compare Bacon, Historia vitae et mortis, §67, on the heat of the spirits. The Latin parallel has saepe and places Venus before the participles; Joubert’s sæpius, added et and parenthetic venus remain. The exact French of Lassale’s quoted renderings is externally unverified. No assumed continuation is supplied.

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.