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 3757 of 3781
[Malebranche.] · Entry 3757
French
p. 7513Le mouvement est peut être quelque chose de plus spirituel encore que la lumière. Car il ne se voit même pas. L’un, la lumière, a l’intelligence pour source; l’autre a la volonté pour son premier point de départ.
La lumière et le mouvement. — L’un a pour source l’intelligence et c’est de là qu’elle découle. L’autre a la volonté pour son premier point de départ.
De la lumière. — Le soleil n’en est qu’un foyer. — Du mouvement: la matière en est un canal. Propre à le transmettre, elle ne peut pas le causer.
Du mouvement occasionné par la pensée : expérience que nous faisons à chaque instant.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [Malebranche.]
p. 7514Movement is perhaps something still more spiritual than light. For it cannot even be seen. One, light, has intelligence for its source; the other has will as its first point of departure.
Light and movement. — One has intelligence for its source, and from there it flows. The other has will as its first point of departure.
Of light. — The sun is only a focus of it. — Of movement: matter is a channel for it. Suited to transmitting it, matter cannot cause it.
Of movement occasioned by thought: an experience we have at every instant.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [Malebranche.] · Entry 3757
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.