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 3486 of 3781
YEAR 1804 · Entry 3486
French
p. 6971Malebranche, né à Paris en 1638, entré à l’oratoire en 1660, publi[…] son livre en 1673, c’est à dire à 35 ans. Ne nous étonnons pas s’il y a mis quelquefois tant de légèretés et si le livre est si long. Il semble que son esprit n’y soit parvenu à ce qu’il y a de bon que par induction et par forme de conséquence des principes cartésiens. Son indépendance des opinions de Descartes lui même est toute cartésienne et il est rebelle par fidélité. En un mot ce n’est partout qu’un habile écolier de son maître.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: YEAR 1804
p. 6972Malebranche, born in Paris in 1638, entered the Oratory in 1660, publish[…] his book in 1673, that is to say, at 35. Let us not be surprised if he sometimes put so many frivolities into it and if the book is so long. It seems that his mind reached what is good in it only by induction and by way of consequence from Cartesian principles. His independence of Descartes’s own opinions is wholly Cartesian, and he is rebellious through fidelity. In a word, everywhere he is only a skillful pupil of his master.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · YEAR 1804 · Entry 3486
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.