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 4252 of 4529
YEAR 1819 · Entry 8033
French
p. 8503Quelque erreur s’attache toujours aux grandes vérités qui courent le monde et quelque fable aux événemens historiques qui ont fortement occupé l’attention de la multitude. Comme il y a toujours quelque chimère dans quelque esprit, il se rencontre toujours quelque esprit qui attache sa chimère à ce qui a passé par lui comme par les autres esprits. Ainsi, point de réalité qui n’ait son merveilleux, si elle a circulé en tous lieux et a passé de bouche en bouche.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1819
p. 8504Some error always attaches itself to the great truths that travel the world, and some fable to the historical events that have strongly occupied the multitude’s attention. Since there is always some chimera in some mind, there is always some mind that attaches its chimera to what has passed through it as through other minds. Thus, no reality is without its marvelous element if it has circulated everywhere and passed from mouth to mouth.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1819 · Entry 8033
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.