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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English Page · Branch 3297 of 4529
YEAR 1814 · Entry 7078
French
p. 65935 août.
Fabrique de scavants. Comment les scavants se fabriquent. — Ce sont les eaux de barrage faites à Tivoli. Tout y est excepté le naturel. Elles ont quelque utilité, mais leurs qualités factices s’évaporent très promptement. Elles ne valent que par l’emploi, et non par leur essence. Cette comparaison n’est pas trop bonne, mais je m’en sers en attendant que j’en rencontre une meilleure. Enfin, tous ces scavants par art ressemblent aux poëtes par art. Les vrais scavans, les vrais poëtes deviennent tels par leur plaisir plus que par leur travail. Ce qui les précipite et les retient dans leurs études, ce n’est pas l’ambition mais leur génie.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1814
p. 6594August 5.
The manufacture of scholars. How scholars are manufactured. — These are the barrage waters made at Tivoli. Everything is there except the natural. They have some usefulness, but their artificial qualities evaporate very quickly. Their worth lies only in their use, and not in their essence. This comparison is not very good, but I use it until I find a better one. Finally, all these scholars by art resemble poets by art. True scholars, true poets become so through their pleasure more than through their labor. What impels them into their studies and keeps them there is not ambition but their genius.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1814 · Entry 7078
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.