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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English Page · Branch 792 of 4529
Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered… · Entry 4573
French
p. 1583Des temps où l’on n’a pas de règles : les gens de bien même y valent moins. La vie alors est un pont sans parapets d’où les emportés se précipitent dans le vice quand ils veulent et les gens yvres sans le vouloir. On est meilleur que soi même dans les bons temps et pire que soi même dans les temps mauvais.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II: Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered…
p. 1584Times when there are no rules: even good people are worth less in them. Life then is a bridge without parapets, from which the impetuous fling themselves into vice when they wish and drunken people without wishing to. One is better than oneself in good times and worse than oneself in bad times.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume II · Theory of the Political World, or On the Science of Government Considered… · Entry 4573
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.