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 IIYEAR 1814 · Entry 7123

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French Page · Branch 3342 of 4529

YEAR 1814 · Entry 7123

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 6683

Y a-t-il une opinion meilleure et plus propre à les éloigner de leurs vices que celle qui persuade aux hommes que lorsqu’ils font le mal c’est toujours par les instigations d’un ennemi qui les hait et qui ne demande que leur perte; et que leurs bonnes pensées viennent […] génie ou de Dieu même?

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1814

p. 6684

Is there a better opinion, and one more apt to lead them away from their vices, than the one that persuades men that, when they do evil, it is always through the instigations of an enemy who hates them and seeks only their ruin; and that their good thoughts come [from] genius or from God himself?

T324.The single paragraph crosses from 797 onto the first two lines of 798. The color witness supports the continuation at a qualified level, while the short word after viennent remains wholly unreadable. Bracketed from supplies only a contextual English connective; it does not certify the French word as du, d’ or any other reconstruction. Genius retains génie, which can suggest a spirit or an originating power here; no named spirit or doctrine is assigned, and the lost connective prevents certainty about the construction. Both comparisons, the initial anticipatory them and later men, plural instigations, always, the enemy’s two relative clauses, restrictive only and the final question remain. Ruin gives perte its destructive force, and God himself retains même. No paragraph break or date is invented at the page boundary.

T597.The one paragraph continues through the first two lines of 798, before that page’s first separator. The complete 797 color page retains both comparisons, plural instigations, the enemy’s relative clauses, toujours and the restrictive ne…que. Initial vices and c’est are identifiable despite margin proximity; no additional loss is inferred there. The direct color 798 witness is still horizontally smeared but makes demande que leur perte; et que leurs bonnes pensées viennent and the final génie ou de Dieu même? readable as qualified literal text. The short word after viennent remains wholly uncertain: the upright/bowl-like and upper traces do not certify du, d’ or an ending. The whole-word […] preserves that unresolved source component; no contextual connective is supplied. The final question mark is recognizable despite the smear. The source loss is distinct from any later contextual English interpretation. The independent structural reviewer has now read the complete color 798 page and original-size opening crop, agreeing with the qualified continuation and the wholly unresolved short word.

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.