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 1656 of 3781
[On movement.] · Entry 1656
French
p. 3311Le nombre ou dénombrement n’existe pas : à la bonne heure; mais la multitude, la pluralité existe. Il y a là la même différence qu’entre les objets dénommables et les dénominations. Le temps existe partout où il y a succession. L’harmonie n’existe pas hors de l’esprit; mais l’équilibre, les balancemens par lesquels l’harmonie est produite existent hors de l’esprit. L’ordre existe hors de lui dans les existences, puisqu’elles sont.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [On movement.]
p. 3312Number or enumeration does not exist: very well; but multitude, plurality, exists. There is the same difference here as between things that can be named and their names. Time exists wherever there is succession. Harmony does not exist outside the mind; but the equilibrium, the balancings by which harmony is produced, exist outside the mind. Order exists outside it in the existences, since they are.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [On movement.] · Entry 1656
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.