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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English Page · Branch 3561 of 3781
[Malebranche.] · Entry 3561
French
p. 71212 juillet.
Des préjugés nécessaires, ou qui se forment dans l’âme inévitablement et à son inscu (idées naturelles). Que ce sont des vérités; ou du moins les seules apparences sous lesquelles l’âme puisse habituellement concevoir certaines vérités. En les éclaircissant aux hommes, on ne leur apprend pas à les avoir, mais on leur apprend à les garder, ce qui met leur esprit à l’aise et leur fait grand plaisir.
Sans préjugés, on ne pourroit juger. Des préjugés qui précèdent l’expérience, pour ainsi dire, la pensée, — ou dont on a le sentiment sans avoir l’opinion. Actes secrets, involontaires, invisibles impressions.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [Malebranche.]
p. 7122July 2.
Of necessary prejudices, or those that form in the soul inevitably and without its knowledge (natural ideas). That they are truths; or at least the only appearances under which the soul can habitually conceive certain truths. In making them clear to men, one does not teach men to have them, but teaches them to keep them, which puts their minds at ease and gives them great pleasure.
Without prejudices, one could not judge. Of prejudices that precede experience, so to speak, thought, — or that one feels without holding them as opinions. Secret, involuntary acts, invisible impressions.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [Malebranche.] · Entry 3561
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.