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 3513 of 3781
[Malebranche.] · Entry 3513
French
p. 7025« La profondeur et la netteté des vertiges de l’imagination dépend de la force des esprits animaux et de la constitution des fibres du cerveau. » Quoi! jamais de l’âme et de l’âme seule? Est-il bon, en métaphysique, de tout expliquer ainsi par la matière seule, par les fluides et les solides? — La qualité des moëles, leur quantité, la dimension de leurs étuis pourroit peut être aussi être comptés. Mais il seroit peut-être sage et utile d’admettre aussi quelque différence de qualité dans la substance même des âmes. Sont-elles destinées dans la vie aux mêmes devoirs, et dans le ciel aux mêmes récompenses? Entre toutes il y a similitude par leur nature, mais non pas peut-être parité entre toutes sans exception. Et il y a plusieurs ordres d’âmes. Il n’y en a point qui surpasse toutes les autres et que beaucoup d’autres n’égalent; mais il en est qui, appellées à de plus hautes vertus et à de plus hautes pensées, ont des ailes pour y voler. Responsables de tous les dons extraordinaires qu’elles ont reçus, coupables si elles en abusent.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [Malebranche.]
p. 7026“The depth and distinctness of imagination’s vertigos depends on the strength of the animal spirits and on the constitution of the brain’s fibers.” What! never on the soul and the soul alone? Is it good, in metaphysics, to explain everything in this way through matter alone, through fluids and solids? — The quality of the marrows, their quantity, the dimension of their sheaths could perhaps also be counted. But it would perhaps be wise and useful to admit some difference in quality in the very substance of souls as well. Are they destined in life for the same duties, and in heaven for the same rewards? Among them all there is likeness by their nature, but perhaps not parity among all without exception. And there are several orders of souls. There is none that surpasses all the others and that many others do not equal; but there are some that, called to higher virtues and higher thoughts, have wings to fly there. Responsible for all the extraordinary gifts they have received, guilty if they abuse them.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [Malebranche.] · Entry 3513
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.