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 6460

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Facing Pages · Branch 2679 of 4529

1812 · Entry 6460

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 5357

[…] octobre.

Il faut se défier des idées simples dans ce qui de sa nature est […]mpliqué; et des idées compliquées dans ce qui est simple de soi. […] ne doit pas plus analyser ce qui est simple, c’est à dire le décom[…]ser, qu’on ne doit le compliquer. L’une et l’autre opération le déna[…]rent, l’anéantissent; ce sont deux abus en direction et en sens […]ntraires.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: 1812

p. 5358

October […].

One must distrust simple ideas in what is by its nature [complicated]; and complicated ideas in what is simple in itself. [One] ought no more to analyze what is simple, that is to say, [decompose] it, than one ought to complicate it. Both operations [distort] it, annihilate it; these are two abuses in [contrary] direction and sense.

T277.The two cautions, no-more-than comparison, decomposition gloss and two destructive results remain. [Complicated], [One], [decompose], [distort] and [contrary] render contextual compliqué, on, décomposer, dénaturent and contraires. Their complete English counterparts are bracketed without certifying the damaged French components. Direction and sense retain the paired terms without imposing a mathematical theory. The October day is wholly unfilled.

T576.The October day is wholly lost. The left margin interrupts […]mpliqué, the subject before ne doit, the wrapped décom[…]ser / déna[…]rent and […]ntraires. Compliqué / on / décomposer / dénaturent / contraires are contextual possibilities only; the surviving m/s/r/n contours are qualified for clipping. The source’s comparative negation and repeated operation remain.

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.