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 1823 · Entry 8190

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Facing Pages · Branch 4409 of 4529

YEAR 1823 · Entry 8190

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 8817

25 avril.

Error ingenium probat, de l’école.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1823

p. 8818

April 25.

Error proves talent, from the school.

T22.The Latin Error ingenium probat is freshly translated; talent is provisional for ingenium’s natural capacity. The following de l’école remains a separate attribution fragment, without identifying a school or silently making it the possessor of talent. “Error proves talent,” is italic through its comma, corresponding to “Error ingenium probat,”; the following attribution and its period are roman. The complete April 25 reading remains qualified by the worn reproduction without an invented preceding digit.

T103.Both date digits are identifiable in original-size color despite left-margin abrasion; no preceding digit is inferred. In the French source, the Latin opening through its comma is italic; de l’école. is roman. The literal wording is retained without an external-source repair.

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.