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 II1812 · Entry 6269

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Facing Pages · Branch 2488 of 4529

1812 · Entry 6269

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 4975

16 février.

Quant à son style, [Cicéron] epistolas vero quotidianis verbi[…] texere solemus. Il employait les premiers termes et les premières pensées qui se présentoient à sa plume et, comme il le disoit, quia quid in buccam venerit.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: 1812

p. 4976

February 16.

As for his style, [Cicero] epistolas vero quotidianis verbi[…] texere solemus. He used the first terms and the first thoughts that presented themselves to his pen and, as he said, quia quid in buccam venerit.

T30.The source-supplied bracketed name is retained in English; both mixed Latin spans remain italic. The first is contextually glossed we customarily weave letters with everyday [words], reading damaged verbi[…] as verbis without restoring its ending. Cicero, Ad familiares IX.21, has epistulas rather than Joubert’s epistolas. The final source phrase is retained literally as the qualified quia quid in buccam venerit: its syntax remains unresolved. At the margin, quia appears possible; quic- joining the following quid is an alternative, with no secure joining hyphen. Ad Atticum I.12 ends with quod in buccam venerit, scribito, roughly write what comes into your mouth. That parallel does not establish Joubert’s opening form or supply the omitted imperative. No coherent complete gloss is imposed on his uncertain quia quid. First repeats for terms and thoughts, and the pen image remains. The checks used electronic Latin, not an original edition or a particular source copy.

T378.The source-supplied brackets around Cicéron remain; the left bracket is abraded but its square-corner portions survive. The first Latin quotation loses the ending after verbi; verbis is a contextual completion only and is not supplied from an external Cicero text. The italic word before next-line quid appears to read quia: the last rounded glyph has a lower right foot like italic a, but it lies beside the damaged margin and remains qualified. Quic- joined with the following quid is an alternative reading, not a certified correction. No joining hyphen is securely legible. The literal separated quia quid and its unresolved syntax remain. The terminal s of premières and several right-edge letters are fragmented but retain identifiable upper/lower shapes; the reading is qualified. Employait and présentoient retain their distinct printed endings. Both Latin spans are italic; the intervening French and bracketed name are roman.

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.