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 4499 of 4529
UNDATED · Entry 8280
French
p. 899740 (Liasse 34.)
Ce Rapin, dans ses Réflexions sur l’histoire où Tite Live est perpétuellement son héros et le seul écrivain sans défaut parmi les anciens (et Mariana parmi les modernes), ce Rapin prétend, page 301, que « Xénophon... n’a rien de grand ny d’élevé ». Le pauvre homme que ce jésuite! Il dit assés bien de Tacite (page 278) : « La morale de Tacite est souvent fausse, parce que sa morale n’est point vraye etc. » Ses jugemens sur cet historien sont ce que cet animal a de meilleur. Il a, ce Rapin, bien des prétentions au stile pur et au bon sens. Il devoit se croire un fort bon auteur et être fort content de lui-même.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: UNDATED
p. 899840 (Bundle 34.)
This Rapin, in his Reflections on History, where Livy is perpetually his hero and the only faultless writer among the ancients (and Mariana among the moderns), this Rapin claims, on page 301, that “Xenophon... has nothing great or elevated.” What a poor fellow this Jesuit is! He says fairly well of Tacitus (page 278): “Tacitus’s morality is often false, because his morality is not true, etc.” His judgments on this historian are the best this animal has to offer. He has, this Rapin, many pretensions to pure style and good sense. He must have thought himself a very good author and been very pleased with himself.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · UNDATED · Entry 8280
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.