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 733 of 4529
YEAR 1806 · Entry 4514
French
p. 146513 mars.
« J’ai eu (disoit Boileau) le courage de lui soutenir (à La Bruyère) que son discours à l’Académie étoit mauvais, quoique d’ailleurs très ingénieux et parfaitement écrit, parce que l’éloquence ne consiste pas à dire simplement de belles choses, mais elle tend à persuader. » Boileau avoit raison d’après l’idée qu’il se formoit de l’éloquence. Mais il en est de deux espèces. L’une tend à exciter l’attention, l’admiration, et l’autre la persuasion. La plus belle ou la plus pure est celle qui persuade. Dans le genre admiratif, l’orateur parle à soi et ne songe qu’à soi. Dans le persuasif, il met ses auditeurs de moitié dans tout ce qu’il dit. Il se sert d’eux : il les remuë et ne se contente pas de les retenir... Dans le premier cas, il captive leur attention et dans le second il l’enchante. Il leur donne, non des pensées seulement, mais des sentimens, des volontés, il les paitrit.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: YEAR 1806
p. 1466March 13.
“I had (said Boileau) the courage to maintain to him (to La Bruyère) that his address to the Academy was bad, although otherwise very ingenious and perfectly written, because eloquence does not consist in simply saying beautiful things, but tends to persuade.” Boileau was right according to the idea he formed of eloquence. But there are two kinds of it. One tends to arouse attention, admiration, and the other persuasion. The most beautiful or the purest is that which persuades. In the kind that seeks admiration, the orator speaks to himself and thinks only of himself. In the persuasive kind, he makes his listeners partners in everything he says. He makes use of them: he moves them and is not content to hold them... In the first case, he captivates their attention, and in the second he enchants it. He gives them not thoughts alone, but feelings, acts of will; he kneads them.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · YEAR 1806 · Entry 4514
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.