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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French Page · Branch 3812 of 4529
YEAR 1816 · Entry 7593
French
p. 76231ᵉʳ mars.
Vous arrivez en Egypte. L’un est frappé de son aspect, de son climat, des souvenirs de son histoire. C’est le scavant ou l’homme d’esprit. L’autre cherche et voit d’un coup d’œil ou il peut établir son bivouac ou ses [...]. C’est l’homme de bon sens. Vous avancez vers Tintira. L’homme d’esprit cherche ses monumens; l’homme de bon sens, de l’eau et des racines. Tous deux font bien; et concluons. Concluons : il faut pour le bien de la société qu’il y ait beaucoup d’hommes en qui le bon sens domine et quelques hommes qui soient dominés par leur esprit.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1816
p. 7624March 1.
You arrive in Egypt. One person is struck by its appearance, its climate, the memories of its history. This is the learned man or the man of intelligence. The other looks for, and sees at a glance, where he can set up his bivouac or his [...]. This is the man of good sense. You advance toward Tintira. The man of intelligence looks for its monuments; the man of good sense, water and roots. Both do well; and let us conclude. Let us conclude: for the good of society there must be many men in whom good sense predominates and a few men who are dominated by their intelligence.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1816 · Entry 7593
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.