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.

Explore the Lexicon

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II1812 · Entry 6407

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

English Page · Branch 2626 of 4529

1812 · Entry 6407

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 5251

[…]5 juillet.

Ce tableau (d’Henri IV) n’étant pas précisément destiné à repré[…]enter les personnages, mais l’action ou l’événement [un blanc]. En […]e cas, une ou deux ressemblances y suffisent, surtout pour la posté[…]ité, qui ne peut connoître qu’un ou deux de ces visages. Henri IV […]st connu, Marie de Médicis ne l’est pas, ni Louis XIII, ni etc. […]ouis XIV l’est beaucoup.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: 1812

p. 5252

July […]5.

This painting (of Henry IV) not being intended precisely to [represent] the figures, but the action or the event [a blank]. In [this] case, one or two likenesses suffice, especially for [posterity], which can know only one or two of these faces. Henry IV [is] known, Marie de Médicis is not, nor Louis XIII, nor etc. [Louis] XIV is very well known.

T214.The opening participial fragment and the source-editor blank remain; both words a blank correspond to italic un blanc within roman brackets. Likenesses, faces and differing recognition are not converted into the people’s importance. [Represent], [this], [posterity], [is] and [Louis] interpret représenter, ce, postérité, est and Louis at the damaged source residues. The partial day remains incomplete. No painting title or artist is supplied.

T523.Only the day suffix 5 is secure. The beginnings before enter, e cas, ité, st and ouis are damaged; représenter / ce / postérité / est / Louis are contextual possibilities only. The intact initials of these residues remain qualified for edge abrasion. The parenthetic Henri IV and all Roman numerals retain their source forms. The opening n’étant remains a participial fragment. The source editorial [un blanc] is present; both un and blanc are italic inside roman brackets. No missing predicate is supplied in French.

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.