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 4398 of 4529
YEAR 1823 · Entry 8179
French
p. 879520 février.
Des horizons qui n’ont pas de soleil (j’entends horizons politiques). Rien n’est doré ni coloré sur leur terrein. Les yeux n’y sont point éblouis, mais ils n’y sont point réjouis. Il n’y a point là d’illusion, mais il n’y a point de charme. Régions glaçantes et glacées, où apparoissent tout au plus de loin en loin quelques étoiles nébuleuses, quelques aurores boréales, rien de brillant qui se répande sur les mœurs.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1823
p. 8796February 20.
Horizons without a sun (I mean political horizons). Nothing on their terrain is gilded or colored. The eyes are not dazzled there, but neither are they delighted. There is no illusion there, but there is no charm. Chilling and frozen regions, where at most, here and there, a few nebulous stars appear, a few northern lights, nothing brilliant that spreads over morals.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1823 · Entry 8179
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.