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 3694 of 3781
[Malebranche.] · Entry 3694
French
p. 7387Chaque homme a deux destinées, l’une qu’il se fait à lui même, l’autre qui lui est imposée. Il fait ses œuvres, et il reçoit ses facultés. Son mérite est l’œuvre de sa liberté; mais son rôle, son rang, son personnage dans le monde sont pour lui de nécessité. Il a reçu cela d’ailleurs. De même donc que nous sommes assujettis à deux mouvemens, celui de la terre et le nôtre, de même dis-je nous sommes dominés par deux volontés, la nôtre et celle de la providence, auteurs de la première et instrumens de celle ci, maîtres de nous pour mériter la récompense qui est assignée à la vertu et machines pour tout le reste.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [Malebranche.]
p. 7388Every man has two destinies, one he makes for himself, the other imposed on him. He makes his works, and receives his faculties. His merit is the work of his freedom; but his role, his rank, his personage in the world are matters of necessity for him. He has received them from elsewhere. Just as, then, we are subject to two movements, that of the earth and our own, so, I say, we are governed by two wills, our own and that of providence, authors of the first and instruments of the latter, masters of ourselves so as to merit the reward assigned to virtue, and machines for all the rest.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [Malebranche.] · Entry 3694
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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.