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 2655 of 4529
1812 · Entry 6436
French
p. 530923 septembre.
Une philosophie amie de l’antiquité, et non pas de la nouveauté; qui se propose l’utilité plus que l’éclat et qui aime mieux être sage qu’être hardie. La présomption est toujours en faveur de ce qui a été; car, puisqu’il a été, il a eu sa raison pour être et, s’il a subsisté, il a eu quelque raison de sa durée, qui n’a pu être que sa convenance avec ce qui existoit déjà, ou un besoin du temps ou un besoin de la nature; enfin quelque nécessité qui le ramènera si on le détruit et qui en fera sentir l’absence par quelque grave inconvénient.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: 1812
p. 5310September 23.
A philosophy friendly to antiquity, and not to novelty; which seeks utility more than brilliance and prefers being wise to being bold. Presumption always favors what has been; for, since it has been, it had its reason for being, and if it has endured, it had some reason for its duration, which could only have been its accord with what already existed, or a need of the time or a need of nature; in short, some necessity that will bring it back if one destroys it and that will make its absence felt through some grave inconvenience.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · 1812 · Entry 6436
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.