Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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French Page · Branch 3588 of 3781
[Malebranche.] · Entry 3588
French
p. 7175« Le temps, cette image mobile de l’immobile éternité. » Il y a du temps dans l’éternité même, mais ce n’est pas un temps terrestre, un temps mondain. Celui ci se mesure ou se compte par le mouvement de la succession des corps; celui là par les affections des esprits, la succession de leurs pensées qui sont leurs mouvemens. C’est un temps spirituel, incorruptible, qui perfectionne tout et ne détruit rien : il achève. Ses changemens sont des améliorations, des développemens. C’est un temps qui consume le mal pour le bien et qui efface le bien par le mieux. Il offre à Dieu ses spectacles et les lui offrira toujours.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [Malebranche.]
p. 7176“Time, that moving image of motionless eternity.” There is time in eternity itself, but it is not an earthly time, a worldly time. The latter is measured or counted by the movement of the succession of bodies; the former by the affections of minds, the succession of their thoughts, which are their movements. It is a spiritual, incorruptible time that perfects everything and destroys nothing: it completes. Its changes are improvements, developments. It is a time that consumes evil for good and effaces the good with the better. It offers God its spectacles, and will offer them to him forever.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [Malebranche.] · Entry 3588
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 I presents the entries on printed pages 32–475. 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.