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 3770 of 4529
YEAR 1815 · Entry 7551
French
p. 753930 décembre.
S’il falloit choisir, j’aimerois mieux la mollesse qui laisse aux hommes le temps de devenir meilleurs que la sévérité qui les rend pires, que la précipitation qui n’attend pas le repentir.
« L’Europe double » de Mʳ de Pratd. La France double. L’esprit public est double. Malheureusement tout est double. — Mais quoi! la littérature est double, la morale est double, la politicologie est double, et le catholicisme est double!
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1815
p. 7540December 30.
If one had to choose, I would prefer softness that leaves men time to become better to severity that makes them worse, to haste that does not wait for repentance.
“Double Europe” by Mr. de Pratd. France double. The public spirit is double. Unfortunately everything is double. — But what! literature is double, morality is double, politicology is double, and Catholicism is double!
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1815 · Entry 7551
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.