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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Facing Pages · Branch 642 of 4529
Thoughts of Plato, in the Theaetetus. · Entry 4423
French
p. 1283Des lignes qui sont des puissances. — Il y en a dans nos mains comme le levier. Il y en a aussi dans l’esprit. Il y en a dans la rhétorique et dans la poëtique comme dans les mathématiques. Il y en a jusques dans les opérations de l’esprit seul avec lui même. Souvent il se donne une idée inutile, il se la souffre et la manie pour en faire venir une autre. Dans les écrits et dans les arts, il y a aussi des couleurs et des phrazes qui ne sont là que pour en faire mieux appercevoir d’autres. Ces lignes, ces couleurs, ces phrazes ne sont rien seules, mais elles deviennent puissances par leur effet; et leur effet ne vient pas de leur nature et de leur valeur propre, mais de leur place et de leur application. Leur voisinage fait leur prix, leur isolement leur néant.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: Thoughts of Plato, in the Theaetetus.
p. 1284Of lines that are powers. — There are some in our hands, like the lever. There are some in the mind as well. There are some in rhetoric and poetics as in mathematics. There are some even in the operations of the mind alone with itself. Often it gives itself a useless idea, permits itself that idea, and handles it to bring forth another. In writings and the arts, there are also colors and phrases that are there only to make others better perceived. These lines, these colors, these phrases are nothing alone, but they become powers through their effect; and their effect comes not from their nature and their own value, but from their place and application. Their neighborhood makes their worth, their isolation their nothingness.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · Thoughts of Plato, in the Theaetetus. · Entry 4423
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.