Finesse

Use in the book

The early account of verbal composition imagines words meeting at a single exact point. The writer consequently needs a finer touch than the philosopher: fineness concerns appropriate contact, not simply ornamental elegance. A later question asks whether all souls possess the same delicacy of touch and susceptibility to the beautiful and good; it does not assert equal powers. In the reported doctor’s remark, questions show breadth and answers fineness. Joubert’s restrained approval leaves these complementary qualities distinct. The description of the Mortemarts’ wit then joins finesse to jesting and naïveté, a combination that prevents it from being reduced to solemn refinement or calculating deception.

Places to read

1. I, p. 53, entry 1, ¶3The writer needs fine touch for exact verbal contact.
2. I, p. 391, entry 9, ¶2Unequal delicacy of inward touch is posed as a question.
3. II, p. 870, entry 7, ¶1A reported contrast assigns breadth to questions and fineness to answers.
4. II, p. 872, entry 6, ¶1Finesse accompanies jesting and naïveté in a description of wit.

Translation in this edition

The English translation sometimes translates the complete phrase finesse de tact as a finer touch or delicacy of touch, while keeping fineness or finesse elsewhere. These are contextual renderings, not equivalents of finesse in isolation. The bracketed [souls] discloses the antecedent expansion; neither the doctor nor the abbreviated V. is identified.