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 1818 · Entry 7981

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Facing Pages · Branch 4200 of 4529

YEAR 1818 · Entry 7981

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 8399

Questions qu’il ne faut pas approfondir, mais effleurer, pour les traiter utilement, parce qu’en remuant leur fonds on en rendroit les eaux plus troubles, si je puis ainsi m’exprimer.

Doctrines qu’il faut exposer de manière que l’erreur et le ridicule en soient visibles à la surface et que le public soit porté à les condamner sur la mine.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1818

p. 8400

Questions that must not be plumbed but only skimmed, if they are to be treated usefully, because by stirring their depths we would make their waters more turbid, if I may put it so.

Doctrines that must be set forth in such a way that their error and absurdity are visible on the surface and that the public is led to condemn them by their appearance.

T249.The prohibition, useful purpose, conditional result and full water image remain. Only makes the not/but contrast natural in English without adding a new restriction to the source. The final self-qualification ends with the collated source period; the following paragraph remains separate. French fonds retains final s. English we renders indefinite on without identifying a particular group. English omits the comma before French mais but retains the following separations after skimmed and usefully; if they are to be treated usefully renders the purpose phrase pour les traiter utilement.

T457.Two separate indented paragraphs remain. The first ends with a baseline period after exprimer, supported by color/native 419; it is not a trailing comma. Literal fonds retains final s. The negative obligation, contrasting infinitives, purpose, conditional and water comparison remain. The second nominal opening retains obligation, both exposed qualities and the final passive/subjunctive relation. Complete trai-/ter and con-/damner wraps and abraded left eaux/en/damner remain readable without added gaps. No names for the doctrines are supplied. All new 887 units before ANNÉE 1819 are roman, with no apparatus. The source specialist’s facsimile collation records the first partial day, later complete days, qualified readable left starts, literal abbandonner/loix/fonds, four-line verse and terminal period, with all stated individual reading qualifications retained. The subsequent year heading and notebook apparatus belong to the next batch.

T250.The nominal opening, obligation, both visible faults, surface and appearance remain. The doctrines are not identified, and the sentence is not silently recast as approval or disapproval of such a method.

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.