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 IIUNDATED · Entry 8290

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French Page · Branch 4509 of 4529

UNDATED · Entry 8290

Translator notesBook Mode

French

p. 9017

50 (id.)

Ouvrages (ou plutôt genres) qu’il faut mettre hors de la critique et de l’approbation, parce que en parler seulement au public seroit un scandale — et que — on se salit le goût en l’appliquant (ne fût-ce qu’un moment) à ces matières.

The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: UNDATED

p. 9018

50 (id.)

Works (or rather kinds) that must be placed outside criticism and approval, because merely speaking of them to the public would be a scandal — and because — one soils one’s taste by applying it (were it only for a moment) to these subjects.

T80.The nominal topic, parenthetic correction, criticism/approval pair, necessity, merely, scandal, interrupted because and momentary concession remain. The soiling image is not softened, and no prohibited genre is identified. French retains unelided parce que en and the two dashes around et que; no extra mark beside the first dash is certified or supplied. Were it only for a moment renders ne fût-ce qu’un moment. The complete body is roman; the separate italic id. relation supplies no date.

T226.In the French source, printed item 50 is one roman paragraph, a nominal topic with relative necessity and two parenthetic qualifications. The two dashes around et que remain; the small detached trace adjacent to the first dash does not certify additional punctuation. Literal unelided parce que en and ne fût-ce remain. The separate italic id. is a group relation, not a date.

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.