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 1817 · Entry 7711

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Facing Pages · Branch 3930 of 4529

YEAR 1817 · Entry 7711

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 7859

4 février.

De même que la foy veut que nous allions contre le témoignage ou l’impression de nos sens, la vertu le veut aussi; car sans cela quelquefois le devoir ne s’accompliroit pas.

Et que dis-je? il faut aller quelquefois dans la pratique des devoirs contre sa raison même ou son raisonnement. C’est ainsi que pour aimer un père haïssable, pour respecter un magistrat méprisable...

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1817

p. 7860

February 4.

Just as faith requires us to go against the testimony or impression of our senses, virtue requires it too; for without this, duty would sometimes go unfulfilled.

And what am I saying? In practicing our duties we must sometimes go against our very reason or our reasoning. Thus, to love a hateful father, to respect a contemptible magistrate...

T2.The analogy, two alternative grounds, repeated requirement and conditional failure of duty remain. Sometimes does not become a universal dismissal of the senses.

T124.Two indented paragraphs remain one unit. The 4 is complete at the qualified level in color/native 391: diagonal junction and right stem remain recognizable; no prior digit is inferred from the marginal traces. Foy, imperfect-looking conditional accompliroit, subjunctive allions, repeated quelquefois and both alternatives remain. The quelque-/fois wrap is complete. Paragraph 2 keeps lowercase il after the question mark, repeated pour and final printed ellipsis without a supplied continuation. Haïssable has two separate raised i components; the left starts l’impression/fois/contre/aimer remain identifiable in color.

T3.The first-person self-question, must/sometimes, reason/reasoning alternative and two infinitive examples remain. The last sentence stays unfinished rather than gaining a supplied conclusion. Hateful retains haïssable as the father’s stated quality.

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.