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This article is a reading of the personal diaries of the scholar Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847) in the light of feminist studies on masculinities. Drawing on his writings, one may trace back the meditative journey of the young scholar during the revolutionary period as he confronted and compared himself to contemporary gender norms. From his feeling out of step with a masculinity built on the active seduction of women to his marriage offering a sought-after patriarchal position, I raise the issue of the perpetuation of male domination through ordinary practices and forms of normativity. Thanks to this outstanding corpus, new light can be thrown onto the organization of scholarly masculinities at the turn of the nineteenth century.