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 2951 of 4529
According to Plato · Entry 6732
French
p. 5901Ces mots dont l’esprit inattentif se contente, par une apparence de clarté et d’exactitude qui attache la mémoire à eux, peuvent être bien dangereux. Tel est le mot de Dicéarque : « L’âme n’est rien que la force du corps vivant mise en action. » Ne songez pas à la pensée, ayez égard à l’effet plus qu’au principe, et le mot vous paroîtra vrai.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: According to Plato
p. 5902Those sayings with which the inattentive mind is content, through an appearance of clarity and exactness that binds the memory to them, can be very dangerous. Such is the saying of Dicaearchus: “The soul is nothing but the living body’s force put into action.” Do not think of thought; regard the effect more than the principle, and the saying will seem true to you.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · According to Plato · Entry 6732
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.