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 4405 of 4529
YEAR 1823 · Entry 8186
French
p. 8809La civilisation, grand mot dont on abuse. C’est ce qui rend civil. Il y a donc civilisation par la religion, par la pudeur, la bienveillance, la justice; car tout cela unit les hommes.
Incivilisation et retour à la barbarie, par l’esprit de contestation, l’irreligion, l’imprudence, l’audace, l’ambition de tous, l’amour constant de son bien-être, l’ardeur du gain, etc. Car tout cela nous désunit d’avec les autres et attache chacun à soi.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1823
p. 8810Civilization, a great word that is abused. It is what makes civil. There is civilization, then, through religion, through modesty, benevolence, justice; for all this unites men.
Uncivilization and return to barbarism, through the spirit of contention, irreligion, imprudence, audacity, the ambition of all, constant love of one’s well-being, ardor for gain, etc. For all this disunites us from others and attaches each to himself.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1823 · Entry 8186
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.