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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Facing Pages · Branch 3587 of 3781
[Malebranche.] · Entry 3587
French
p. 717314 juillet.
De la prévision. Quoi qu’on en dise, nous devons regarder les existences nouvelles comme quelque chose de nouveau pour Dieu lui même : nous ne pouvons concevoir cela autrement. Il voit dans un miroir ce qui doit être, il voit en face ce qui est. Il voit (par la prévision) dans un miroir (celui de sa préscience) ce qui doit être et dont il a en lui l’idée. Les miroirs ordinaires n’admettent en eux que des images; l’idée en Dieu précède la chose; l’idée (dans le monde) la suit. L’idée de Dieu est la cause de la chose; la chose dans le monde est la cause de l’image.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [Malebranche.]
p. 7174July 14.
Of foresight. Whatever may be said, we must regard new existences as something new for God himself: we cannot conceive it otherwise. He sees in a mirror what is to be; he sees face to face what is. He sees (by foresight) in a mirror (that of his foreknowledge) what is to be and of which he has the idea within him. Ordinary mirrors admit only images into themselves; the idea in God precedes the thing; the idea (in the world) follows it. God’s idea is the cause of the thing; the thing in the world is the cause of the image.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [Malebranche.] · Entry 3587
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.