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 4141 of 4529
YEAR 1818 · Entry 7922
French
p. 8281Mœurs poëtiques et Des mœurs poëtiques. — Il faut avoir des mœurs poëtiques; c’est à dire de ces mœurs qui seyent bien à la nature humaine, à toutes les fortunes, aux rois comme aux bergers, et qui seroient propres à faire un plaisir doux à tous ceux à qui elles seroient racontées.
Les mœurs poëtiques conviennent surtout aux poëtes.
Mœurs patriarcales, mœurs austères, mœurs saintes.
Les mœurs poëtiques sont celles de l’âge d’or, les mœurs patriarcales celles de la bible, les mœurs austères celles de l’histoire et les mœurs saintes celles des légendes. Les légendes doivent donc être une partie de nos études et de nos observations.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1818
p. 8282Poetic manners and Of poetic manners. — One must have poetic manners; that is to say, those manners that well become human nature, every fortune, kings as well as shepherds, and that would be suited to giving a gentle pleasure to all to whom they might be recounted.
Poetic manners are especially fitting for poets.
Patriarchal manners, austere manners, holy manners.
Poetic manners are those of the golden age, patriarchal manners those of the Bible, austere manners those of history, and holy manners those of legends. Legends must therefore be part of our studies and our observations.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1818 · Entry 7922
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.