From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
Click
to display the full page from the Big Book1.
... A.A.
12&12 p.35,
Step Three
Already a willingness has been achieved to cast out one's own
will and one's own ideas about the alcohol problem in favor of those suggested by A.A.
2.
... A.A.
12&12 p.46,
Step Four
They comfort the melancholy one by first showing him that his case is not strange or different, that his character defects are probably not more numerous or worse than those of anyone else in A.A.
3.
... A.A.
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
4.
... A.A.'s.
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
5.
... A.A.
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
6.
... A.A.
12&12 p.15,
Foreword (Note)
7.
... A.A.
12&12 p.131,
Tradition One
Thus has it been with A.A.
8.
... A.A.
12&12 p.135,
Tradition Two
9.
... A.A.
12&12 p.139,
Tradition Three
No matter who you are, no matter how low you've gone, no matter how grave your emotional complications -- even
your crimes -- we still
can't deny you A.A.
10.
... A.A.
12&12 p.140,
Tradition Three
11.
... A.A.
12&12 p.143,
Tradition Three
12.
... A.A.
12&12 p.153,
Tradition Five
13.
... A.A.
12&12 p.160,
Tradition Seven
14.
... A.A.)
12&12 p.163,
Tradition Seven
15.
... A.A.
12&12 p.164,
Tradition Seven
16.
... A.A."
12&12 p.167,
Tradition Eight
Caretakers who swept floors, cooks who fried hamburgers, secretaries in offices,
authors writing books -- all these we have seen
hotly assailed because they were, as their critics angrily remarked, "making money out of A.A."
17.
... A.A."
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
18.
... A.A.
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
Then we saw that if a hardworking secretary
answered the phone dozens of times a day, listened to twenty wailing wives, arranged hospitalization and got
sponsorship for ten newcomers, and was gently
diplomatic with the irate drunk who complained about the job she
was doing and how she was overpaid, then such a person could surely not be called a professional
A.A.
19.
... A.A.'s.
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
20.
... A.A.!"
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
21.
... A.A.
12&12 p.183,
Tradition Eleven
22.
... A.A.
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Nine (Long)
23.
... A.A.
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Nine (Long)
They are the custodians of our A.A.
24.
... A.A.
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Nine (Long)
25.
... A.A.
BB p.104,
To Wives (Note)
But many of the suggestions given here may be adapted to help the person who lives with a woman alcoholic -- whether she
is still drinking or is
recovering in A.A.
26.
... A.A.
BB p.155,
A Vision For You (Note)
27.
... A.A.
BB xi,
Preface
The second edition added the appendices, the
Twelve Traditions, and
the directions for getting in touch with A.A.
28.
... A.A. "12
Step" work is never to ...
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
29.
... A.A.'s "12
Traditions" are seen in their ...
BB p.561(563),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
On the next page, A.A.'s "12 Traditions" are seen in
their so-called "short form" the form in general use today.
30.
... A.A. a
national institution.
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
31.
... A.A. a
particle of harm.
12&12 p.178,
Tradition Ten
32.
... A.A. activity
in approximately 150 countries, with ...
BB p.162,
A Vision For You (Note)
There is A.A. activity in
approximately 150 countries, with an estimated membership
of over two million.
33.
... A.A.'s all
around the globe.
12&12 p.151,
Tradition Five
This is our gift from God, and
its bestowal upon others like us is the one aim that today animates A.A.'s all around the globe.
34.
... A.A. all
right, and were quick to ...
12&12 p.97,
Step Eleven
35.
... A.A., and
for the first time in ...
12&12 p.57,
Step Five
When we reached A.A., and
for the first time in our lives stood among people who seemed to understand, the
sense of belonging was
tremendously exciting.
36.
... A.A. and
his new friends that he ...
12&12 p.118,
Step Twelve
Her husband may become so
wrapped up in A.A. and his new friends that he is inconsiderately away
from home more than when he drank.
37.
... A.A. and
I have come to the ...
BB p.569(571),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, psychiatrist:
"As a psychiatrist, I have thought a great deal about the relationship of my specialty to A.A. and I have
come to the conclusion
that our particular function can very often lie in preparing the way for the patient to accept any sort of treatment or outside help.
38.
... A.A. and
intends to stick has, without ...
12&12 p.35,
Step Three
Every man and woman who has joined A.A. and intends to stick has, without realizing it, made a beginning on Step Three.
39.
... A.A.'s and
long enough acquainted to know ...
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
The prospective partners need to be solid A.A.'s and long enough acquainted to know that
their compatibility at spiritual, mental, and emotional levels is a fact and not wishful thinking.
40.
... A.A. --
and medically supervised.
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Six (Long)
But hospitals, as well as
other places of recuperation, ought to
be well outside A.A. -- and medically supervised.
41.
... A.A. --
and medically supervised.
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
But hospitals, as well as
other places of recuperation, ought to
be well outside A.A. -- and medically supervised.
42.
... A.A. and
money.
12&12 p.161,
Tradition Seven
43.
... A.A. and
really tried, 50% got sober ...
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
Of alcoholics who came
to A.A. and really tried, 50% got sober at once and remained that way; 25% sobered up after some relapses, and among the remainder, those who stayed on with A.A. showed improvement.
44.
... A.A. and
sober, and winning back the ...
12&12 p.92,
Step Ten
Now that we're in A.A. and sober, and winning back the esteem of our friends and business associates, we find that we
still need to exercise special vigilance.
45.
... A.A. and
spiritual things, often enhance such ...
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
Their common suffering
as drinkers, their common interest in A.A. and spiritual things, often enhance such unions.
46.
... A.A. and
the public.
12&12 p.165,
Tradition Seven
The board would be isolated, and would fall under heavy attack of criticism from
both A.A. and the public.
47.
... A.A. and
the whole world abound.
12&12 p.48,
Step Four
Of course the depressive and the power-driver are personality extremes,
types with which A.A. and the
whole world abound.
48.
... A.A., and
there we discover the fatal ...
12&12 p.24,
Step One
Under the lash of alcoholism, we are driven
to A.A., and there we discover the fatal nature of our situation.
49.
... A.A.'s anonymity
policy.
12&12 p.183,
Tradition Eleven
Since that time, editors
and rewrite men have repeatedly deleted names and pictures of members from A.A. copy; frequently, they have
reminded ambitious individuals of A.A.'s anonymity policy.
50.
... A.A. answer
to these questions about living ...
12&12 p.112,
Step Twelve
51.
... A.A. apart?
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
52.
... A.A.'s are
active folk, enjoying the satisfactions ...
12&12 p.96,
Step Eleven
We A.A.'s are active folk, enjoying the satisfactions of dealing with the realities of life, usually for the first time in our lives, and strenuously trying to help the next alcoholic who comes along.
53.
... A.A. are
but trusted and experienced servants ...
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Nine (Long)
All such representatives are to be guided in the spirit of service, for true leaders in A.A. are but trusted and experienced
servants of the whole.
54.
... A.A. are
but trusted and experienced servants ...
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
All such representatives are to be guided in the spirit of service, for true leaders in A.A. are but trusted and experienced
servants of the whole.
55.
... A.A. as
a whole."
12&12 p.146,
Tradition Four
56.
... A.A. as
a whole.
12&12 p.164,
Tradition Seven
Foundation obtained
money from outside sources, its trustees might be tempted
to run things without reference to the
wishes of A.A. as a whole.
57.
... A.A. as
a whole.
12&12 p.175,
Tradition Nine
It is in this spirit of service that we elect the
A.A. group's informal rotating committee, the intergroup association for the area,
and the General Service
Conferences of Alcoholics Anonymous
for A.A. as a whole.
58.
... A.A. as
a whole.
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Four -- Each group should be autonomous
except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
59.
... A.A. as
a whole could survive and ...
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
As we discovered the principles by which the individual alcoholic
could live, so we had to evolve principles by
which the A.A. groups and
A.A. as a whole could survive and function effectively.
60.
... A.A. as
a whole is threatened.
12&12 p.146,
Tradition Four
But in relation to us, it means very simply that every A.A. group can manage its affairs exactly as it pleases, except when A.A. as a whole is threatened.
61.
... A.A. as
a whole, nor ought it ...
12&12 p.147,
Tradition Four
In charting this enormous expanse of freedom, we found it necessary to post only two storm signals: A group ought not do anything which
would greatly injure
A.A. as a whole, nor ought it affiliate itself with anything or anybody else.
62.
... A.A. as
a whole -- should never be ...
12&12 p.172,
Tradition Nine
Today, we are able to say with assurance that Alcoholics Anonymous
-- A.A. as a whole -- should
never be organized at
all.
63.
... A.A. as
a whole, that's quite a ...
12&12 p.177,
Tradition Ten
64.
... A.A. as
a whole without conferring with ...
12&12 p.189,
Tradition Four (Long)
And no group, regional committee, or
individual should ever
take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board.
65.
... A.A. as
a whole without conferring with ...
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
And no group, regional committee, or
individual should ever
take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board.
66.
... A.A. as
a whole, would suffice as ...
12&12 p.107,
Step Twelve
For the time being, we who
were atheist or agnostic discovered
that our own group, or A.A. as a whole, would suffice as a higher power.
67.
"A.A., as
such, ought never be organized; ...
12&12 p.172,
Tradition Nine
"A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible
to those they serve."
68.
... A.A., as
such, ought never be organized; ...
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Nine -- A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we
may create service boards or committees directly responsible
to those they serve.
69.
... A.A., as
they are known today, were ...
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
The basic principles of
A.A., as they are known today, were borrowed mainly from the fields of religion and medicine, though some ideas upon which success finally depended were the
result of noting the behavior and needs of the Fellowship itself.
70.
... A.A. as
we know it would stop.
12&12 p.175,
Tradition Nine
If nobody does the group's
chores, if the area's telephone rings unanswered, if we do not reply to our mail, then A.A. as we know it would stop.
71.
... A.A.'s ask
with much earnestness and faith ...
12&12 p.103,
Step Eleven
We have seen A.A.'s ask with much earnestness and faith for
God's explicit guidance on matters ranging all the way from a shattering domestic or
financial crisis to correcting a minor personal fault, like tardiness.
72.
... A.A. at
all, so great was the ...
12&12 p.140,
Tradition Three
If all those rules had been
in effect everywhere,
nobody could have possibly joined A.A. at all, so great was the sum of our anxiety and fear.
73.
... A.A.'s at
first try to bypass Step ...
12&12 p.55,
Step Five
So intense, though, is
our fear and reluctance
to do this, that many A.A.'s
at first try to bypass Step Five.
74.
... A.A.'s basic
text, those words have proved ...
BB xxiii,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
Like so much of A.A.'s basic text, those words have proved to be far more visionary than the founding members could ever have imagined.
75.
... A.A. beam.
12&12 p.84,
Step Nine
76.
... A.A. because
of such conversations.
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
77.
... A.A. before
the general public that alcoholics ...
BB xviii,
Foreword to Second Edition
Then Jack Alexander wrote a feature article in the Saturday Evening Post and placed such a compelling picture of
A.A. before the general public that alcoholics in need of help really deluged us.
78.
... A.A. before
the whole public.
12&12 p.187,
Tradition Twelve
We simply couldn't afford
to take the chance of letting self-appointed members present themselves as messiahs representing
A.A. before the whole public.
79.
... A.A.'s believe,
the best answers that our ...
BB p.561(563),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
The "12 Traditions" of Alcoholics Anonymous
are, we A.A.'s believe, the
best answers that our experience has yet given to those ever-urgent questions, "How can A.A. best function?" and, "How can
A.A. best stay whole and so survive?"
80.
... A.A. best
function?" and, "How can A.A. ...
BB p.561(563),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
The "12 Traditions" of Alcoholics Anonymous
are, we A.A.'s believe, the
best answers that our experience has yet given to those ever-urgent questions, "How can A.A. best function?" and, "How can
A.A. best stay whole and so survive?"
81.
... A.A.'s best
press agents.
12&12 p.181,
Tradition Eleven
It resulted in more favorable publicity of
Alcoholics Anonymous than could possibly have been obtained through all the
arts and abilities of
A.A.'s best press agents.
82.
... A.A. best
stay whole and so survive?"
BB p.561(563),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
The "12 Traditions" of Alcoholics Anonymous
are, we A.A.'s believe, the
best answers that our experience has yet given to those ever-urgent questions, "How can A.A. best function?" and, "How can
A.A. best stay whole and so survive?"
83.
... A.A.'s bold
enough to accept employment with ...
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
No individuals have been
more buffeted by such emotional gusts than those A.A.'s bold enough to accept employment with outside
agencies dealing with
the alcohol problem.
84.
... A.A. booms
in Middletown.
12&12 p.133,
Tradition Two
85.
... A.A.'s bring
a wide range of business ...
12&12 p.169,
Tradition Eight (Note)
86.
... A.A. business,
I thought, is totally unscientific.
12&12 p.27,
Step Two
87.
... A.A. business
meeting and blow his top ...
12&12 p.177,
Tradition Ten
A corporation director who had just voted a company expenditure of a hundred thousand dollars would appear at an
A.A. business meeting and blow his top over an outlay of twenty-five dollars' worth of needed postage stamps.
88.
... A.A., but
did not succeed because they ...
12&12 p.23,
Step One
Many less desperate alcoholics
tried A.A., but did not succeed because they could
not make the admission of
hopelessness.
89.
... A.A., but
in all other matters I ...
12&12 p.36,
Step Three
But suppose that instinct still cries out, as it certainly will, "Yes, respecting alcohol, I guess I have to be
dependent upon A.A., but in all other matters I must still maintain my independence.
90.
... A.A. but
that hypothetical class of people ...
12&12 p.140,
Tradition Three
"We were resolved to admit nobody to A.A. but that hypothetical
class of people we termed 'pure alcoholics.'
91.
... A.A. by
tens of thousands, largely as ...
12&12 p.17,
Foreword
In the next years alcoholics flocked to
A.A. by tens of thousands, largely as the
result of excellent and
continuous publicity freely given by magazines and newspapers throughout
the world.
92.
... A.A. calendar
it was Year Two.
12&12 p.141,
Tradition Three
93.
... A.A. campus,"
and love follows at first ...
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
It is only where "boy meets girl on A.A. campus," and love follows at first sight, that difficulties
may develop.
94.
... A.A.'s can
agree with him, for we ...
12&12 p.94,
Step Ten
How heartily we A.A.'s can
agree with him, for we know
that the pains of drinking had to come before sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity.
95.
... A.A. can
be located through the local ...
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
In such places, A.A. can be located through the local telephone directory, newspaper office, or police station, or by contacting local priests or ministers.
96.
... A.A. can
compel another to do anything; ...
12&12 p.129,
Tradition One
97.
... A.A. can
give another a directive and ...
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
When told that our Society
has no president having authority to govern it, no treasurer who can compel the payment of any dues, no
board of directors who
can cast an erring member into outer darkness, when indeed no A.A. can give another a directive and enforce obedience, our friends gasp and exclaim, "This simply can't be. There must be
an angle somewhere."
98.
A.A. can,
of course, mean just as ...
BB p.561(563),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
99.
... A.A.'s can
say to the drifter, "Yes, ...
12&12 p.28,
Step Two
100.
... A.A.'s can
say, "Yes, we were like ...
12&12 p.29,
Step Two
101.
... A.A.'s cannot
pretend to offer full answers ...
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
We A.A.'s cannot pretend to
offer full answers to age-old perplexities, but our
own experience does provide certain answers that work for us.
102.
... A.A. carry
them through?
12&12 p.38,
Step Three
103.
... A.A. classic.
12&12 p.149,
Tradition Four
104.
... A.A. comes
harder to those who have ...
12&12 p.28,
Step Two
Sometimes A.A. comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had any faith at all, for they think they have tried faith and found it wanting.
105.
A.A.'s commenced
to thump tables in legislative ...
12&12 p.157,
Tradition Six
106.
... A.A. connections,
and we feared we'd be ...
12&12 p.161,
Tradition Seven
We took this violent new tack because here and there members had tried to make money out of their A.A. connections, and we feared we'd be exploited.
107.
... A.A. consists
mainly of racking dilemmas and ...
12&12 p.125,
Step Twelve
We have been considering so many problems that it may appear that A.A. consists mainly of racking dilemmas and troubleshooting.
108.
... A.A. contributions
by which we maintain our ...
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Nine (Long)
109.
... A.A. contributions
by which we maintain our ...
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
They are the custodians of our A.A. Tradition and the receivers of voluntary
A.A. contributions by
which we maintain our A.A.
General Service Office at New York.
110.
... A.A. copy;
frequently, they have reminded ambitious ...
12&12 p.183,
Tradition Eleven
Since that time, editors
and rewrite men have repeatedly deleted names and pictures of members from A.A. copy; frequently, they have
reminded ambitious individuals of A.A.'s anonymity policy.
111.
... A.A. could
get along better without its ...
12&12 p.143,
Tradition Three
112.
... A.A. could
go faster and farther if ...
12&12 p.182,
Tradition Eleven
They were sure that A.A. could
go faster and farther if it availed itself of modern publicity methods.
113.
... A.A. could
have made only the slowest ...
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
114.
... A.A. could
never have grown as it ...
12&12 p.180,
Tradition Eleven
115.
... A.A. did
dream those dreams.
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
116.
... A.A., died
in the spring of 1960.
BB p.572(574),
Appendix V, The Religious View on A.A.
117.
... A.A., died
January 24, 1971.
BB p.16,
Bill's Story
118.
... A.A. dies.
12&12 p.129,
Tradition One
119.
... A.A.'s disciplinarians;
we need no others.
12&12 p.174,
Tradition Nine
120.
... A.A. do
not question that.
12&12 p.181,
Tradition Eleven
We of A.A. do not question
that.
121.
... A.A. do
obey spiritual principles, first because ...
12&12 p.174,
Tradition Nine
So we of A.A. do obey spiritual principles,
first because we must, and ultimately because we love the kind of life such obedience brings.
122.
... A.A. does
seem to suggest..."
12&12 p.174,
Tradition Nine
123.
... A.A. does
the group conscience decree the ...
12&12 p.134,
Tradition Two
124.
... A.A. doesn't
pay off after all.
12&12 p.113,
Step Twelve
125.
... A.A.'s early
medical and religious friends will ...
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
Some of the recommendations of A.A.'s early medical and religious friends will be found further on in this book.
126.
... A.A. emerged
from its infancy into adolescence, ...
12&12 p.161,
Tradition Seven
As A.A. emerged from its infancy into adolescence, we swung
from the idea that we needed
vast sums of money to the notion that A.A. shouldn't have any.
127.
... A.A. entered
a new phase of its ...
BB xvii,
Foreword to Second Edition
128.
A.A.'s entered
the services and were scattered ...
12&12 p.38,
Step Three
129.
... A.A., entirely
contrary to his own desires, ...
12&12 p.136,
Tradition Two
One of the first members of A.A., entirely contrary to his
own desires, was obliged to conform to group opinion.
130.
... A.A.'s, even
the best, fall far short ...
12&12 p.112,
Step Twelve
131.
... A.A.'s existence
in his community.
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
These quiet disclosures helped him
to lose his fear of the alcoholic stigma, and spread the news of A.A.'s existence in his community.
132.
... A.A. expecting
to be taught self-confidence.
12&12 p.22,
Step One
133.
... A.A. experience.
12&12 p.149,
Tradition Four
134.
... A.A. experience
has taught us that:
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
135.
A.A. experience
has taught us we cannot ...
12&12 p.55,
Step Five
A.A. experience has taught us we cannot live alone with our pressing problems and the character defects which
cause or aggravate them.
136.
... A.A. experience
in this Step has meant ...
12&12 p.82,
Step Eight
Whenever our pencil falters, we can fortify and
cheer ourselves by remembering what A.A. experience in this Step has
meant to others.
137.
... A.A.'s experience
means anything at all, this ...
12&12 p.56,
Step Five
Yet if A.A.'s experience means anything at all, this is not only unwise, but is actually a
perilous resolve.
138.
... A.A. experience
tell all these they may ...
12&12 p.28,
Step Two
139.
... A.A.'s experience
that particularly in these cases ...
12&12 p.104,
Step Eleven
It is A.A.'s experience
that particularly in these cases we ought to pray that God's will, whatever it is, be done for others as well as for ourselves.
140.
... A.A. experience,
that we surely must try ...
12&12 p.73,
Step Seven
But again we are driven on
by the inescapable conclusion which we draw
from A.A. experience,
that we surely must try with a will, or else fall by the wayside.
141.
... A.A., express
any opinion on outside controversial ...
12&12 p.192,
Tradition Ten (Long)
Ten -- No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues
-- particularly those
of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.
142.
... A.A., express
any opinion on outside controversial ...
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
10. No A.A.
group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial
issues -- particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.
143.
... A.A. Fellowship.
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
Both were severe cases of alcoholism and
were destined to become
co-founders of the A.A. Fellowship.
144.
... A.A. finally
drop all its membership regulations?
12&12 p.141,
Tradition Three
145.
... A.A.'s find
we need something much better ...
12&12 p.92,
Step Ten
Although these attitudes are common enough, we A.A.'s find we need something much better in order to keep our balance.
146.
... A.A.'s first
group, at Akron, Ohio, in ...
BB p.156,
A Vision For You (Note)
147.
... A.A.'s First
International Convention, held at Cleveland ...
12&12 p.18,
Foreword
It was out of this vast welter of explosive experience that A.A.'s Twelve Traditions took form and were first published in 1946 and later confirmed at A.A.'s First International Convention, held at Cleveland in 1950.
148.
... A.A. fix
drunks or was it an ...
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
149.
... A.A. --
for example, your clergyman or your ...
12&12 p.61,
Step Five
150.
... A.A. for
the first time is greatly ...
12&12 p.130,
Tradition One
151.
... A.A. for
the solution of his alcohol ...
12&12 p.39,
Step Three
He made a beginning, we
have seen, when he commenced to rely upon A.A. for the solution of his alcohol problem.
152.
... A.A. friend.
12&12 p.39,
Step Three
153.
... A.A.'s friends
that these pieces might arouse ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
Though the essays which follow were written mainly for members, it is thought by many of A.A.'s friends that these pieces might arouse interest and find application outside
A.A. itself.
154.
... A.A. friends,
these so-called loners tell us ...
12&12 p.120,
Step Twelve
155.
... A.A. from
its primary purpose.
12&12 p.165,
Tradition Seven
The pressure of that fat treasury would surely tempt the board to invent all kinds of schemes to do good with such funds, and so divert A.A. from its primary purpose.
156.
... A.A. from
the housetops, and did.
12&12 p.185,
Tradition Twelve
157.
... A.A., full
of wisdom, who moves to ...
12&12 p.173,
Tradition Nine
Who is more unpopular
than the oldtime A.A., full of wisdom, who moves to another area and tries to tell the group there how to run its business?
158.
... A.A. functions
as a society.
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
159.
... A.A. General
Service Committee.
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
160.
... A.A.'s General
Service Office, A.A. World Services, ...
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
The General Service Board of A.A. (the trustees) administers
A.A.'s General Service Office, A.A. World Services, Inc., and our monthly magazine, the
A.A. Grapevine.
161.
... A.A. General
Service Office at New York.
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
They are the custodians of our A.A. Tradition and the receivers of voluntary
A.A. contributions by
which we maintain our A.A.
General Service Office at New York.
162.
... A.A. get
its direction?
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
163.
... A.A.'s go
in for annual or semiannual ...
12&12 p.89,
Step Ten
164.
... A.A. got,
or can we get, the ...
12&12 p.113,
Step Twelve
Have we alcoholics in A.A. got, or can we get, the resources to meet these calamities which
come to so many?
165.
... A.A. Grapevine.
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Nine (Long)
They are authorized by the groups to handle our overall public relations and they guarantee the integrity
of our principal newspaper, the A.A. Grapevine.
166.
... A.A. Grapevine.
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
They are authorized by the groups to handle our over-all public relations and they guarantee the integrity
of our principal newspaper, the A.A. Grapevine.
167.
... A.A. Grapevine.
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
The General Service Board of A.A. (the trustees) administers
A.A.'s General Service Office, A.A. World Services, Inc., and our monthly magazine, the
A.A. Grapevine.
168.
... A.A.'s greatest
friends.
12&12 p.63,
Step Six
169.
... A.A.'s greatest
protection.
12&12 p.183,
Tradition Eleven
The Foundation(*) wrote
letters to practically every news outlet in North America, setting forth our public relations policy of attraction rather than promotion, and
emphasizing personal anonymity as
A.A.'s greatest protection.
170.
... A.A. grew
by leaps and bounds.
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
While the internal difficulties of our adolescent period were being ironed out, public acceptance of A.A. grew by leaps and bounds.
171.
... A.A. group?
12&12 p.112,
Step Twelve
Can we bring the same spirit of love and tolerance into our sometimes deranged family lives that we bring to our A.A. group?
172.
... A.A. group.
12&12 p.139,
Tradition Three
173.
... A.A. group.
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
If you cannot find A.A. in
your locality, visit our
Web site: www.aa.org; or a letter addressed to Alcoholics Anonymous,
Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, USA, will receive a prompt reply from this world center, referring you to the nearest A.A. group.
174.
... A.A. group
an individual entity, strictly reliant ...
12&12 p.147,
Tradition Four
This meant, of course, that
we had been given the courage to declare each A.A. group an individual entity, strictly reliant on its own conscience as a guide to action.
175.
... A.A. group,
as such, should never go ...
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Six (Long)
176.
... A.A. group,
as such, should never go ...
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
177.
... A.A. group,
as such, simply couldn't handle ...
12&12 p.149,
Tradition Four
178.
... A.A. group
as their higher power, claims ...
12&12 p.96,
Step Eleven
To certain newcomers
and to those one-time agnostics who still cling to the A.A. group as their higher power, claims for the power of prayer may, despite all the
logic and experience in
proof of it, still be unconvincing or quite objectionable.
179.
... A.A. group
can bind itself to no ...
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Six (Long)
180.
... A.A. group
can bind itself to no ...
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
181.
... A.A. group
can manage its affairs exactly ...
12&12 p.146,
Tradition Four
But in relation to us, it means very simply that every A.A. group can manage its affairs exactly as it pleases, except when A.A. as a whole is threatened.
182.
... A.A. group
could stand almost any amount ...
12&12 p.146,
Tradition Four
When A.A.'s Traditions
were first published, in
1946, we had become sure that an A.A. group could stand almost any amount of battering.
183.
... A.A. group
had actually been formed, though ...
BB xvii,
Foreword to Second Edition
When the broker returned
to New York in the fall of 1935, the first A.A. group had actually been formed, though no one realized it at the time.
184.
... A.A. group
had exercised its right to ...
12&12 p.149,
Tradition Four
185.
... A.A. group
had many membership rules.
12&12 p.139,
Tradition Three
186.
... A.A. group's
informal rotating committee, the intergroup ...
12&12 p.174,
Tradition Nine
It is in this spirit of service that we elect the
A.A. group's informal rotating committee, the intergroup association for the area,
and the General Service
Conferences of Alcoholics Anonymous
for A.A. as a whole.
187.
... A.A. group
into business; too many busybody ...
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
Whereupon we tried A.A. hospitals -- they all bogged down because you cannot put an A.A. group into business; too many busybody cooks spoil the broth.
188.
... A.A. group
may cooperate with anyone, such ...
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Six (Long)
While an A.A. group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never to go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or
implied.
189.
... A.A. group
may cooperate with anyone, such ...
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
While an A.A. group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or
implied.
190.
... A.A. group
needs the least possible organization.
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Nine (Long)
191.
... A.A. group
needs the least possible organization.
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
192.
... A.A. group
or member should ever, in ...
12&12 p.192,
Tradition Ten (Long)
Ten -- No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues
-- particularly those
of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.
193.
... A.A. group
or member should ever, in ...
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
10. No A.A.
group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial
issues -- particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.
194.
... A.A. group
or upon a Higher Power ...
12&12 p.38,
Step Three
195.
... A.A. group
ought never endorse, finance, or ...
12&12 p.155,
Tradition Six
"An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our
primary purpose."
196.
... A.A. group
ought never endorse, finance or ...
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Six -- An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary
purpose.
197.
... A.A. group
ought to be fully self-supporting, ...
12&12 p.160,
Tradition Seven
198.
... A.A. group
ought to be fully self-supporting, ...
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
199.
... A.A. group
provided that as a group ...
12&12 p.147,
Tradition Four
So confident of this had we become that the original statement of A.A. tradition carried this significant sentence:
"Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that as a group they have no other affiliation."
200.
... A.A. group,
provided that, as a group, ...
12&12 p.189,
Tradition Three (Long)
Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a
group, they have no other affiliation.
201.
... A.A. group,
provided that, as a group, ...
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a
group, they have no other affiliation.
202.
... A.A. group
should be responsible to no ...
12&12 p.189,
Tradition Four (Long)
Four -- With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience.
203.
... A.A. group
should be responsible to no ...
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
4. With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience.
204.
... A.A. group
the higher power, would presently ...
12&12 p.109,
Step Twelve
From great numbers of such experiences, we could
predict that the doubter
who still claimed that he
hadn't got the "spiritual
angle," and who still considered his well-loved A.A. group the higher power, would presently love God and call Him by name.
205.
... A.A. group
was given five thousand dollars ...
12&12 p.161,
Tradition Seven
206.
... A.A. group
was struck at Akron, Ohio, ...
BB xv,
Foreword to Second Edition
The spark that was to flare
into the first A.A. group was struck at Akron, Ohio, in June 1935, during a talk between a New York stockbroker and an Akron physician.
207.
... A.A. group
with medication and education had ...
12&12 p.148,
Tradition Four
By his eloquence he allayed all fears, despite advice from the Foundation that it could issue no charter, and that ventures
which mixed an A.A. group with medication and
education had come to sticky ends elsewhere.
208.
... A.A. group
would have to stick to ...
12&12 p.147,
Tradition Four
209.
... A.A. groups.
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
For this reason, some very
good causes and all connected with them suffered unjust criticism from A.A. groups.
210.
... A.A. groups.
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
211.
... A.A. groups
and A.A. as a whole ...
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
As we discovered the principles by which the individual alcoholic
could live, so we had to evolve principles by
which the A.A. groups and
A.A. as a whole could survive and function effectively.
212.
... A.A. groups
could duplicate everywhere.
12&12 p.147,
Tradition Four
They figured the town needed a great big alcoholic center, a kind of pilot plant A.A. groups could duplicate everywhere.
213.
... A.A. groups
for voluntary contributions.
12&12 p.162,
Tradition Seven
214.
A.A. groups
had their fling at education, ...
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
A.A. groups had their fling at education, and
when they began to publicly whoop up the merits of this or that brand, people became confused.
215.
... A.A. groups,
many thought, could go into ...
12&12 p.155,
Tradition Six
The A.A. groups, many thought, could go into business, might finance any enterprise whatever in
the total field of alcoholism.
216.
... A.A. groups
multiplied, so did anonymity problems.
12&12 p.185,
Tradition Twelve
217.
... A.A. groups
or from Box 459, Grand ...
BB p.570(572),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
(This address is now available in pamphlet form at nominal cost through most A.A. groups or from Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, under the title "Three Talks to Medical Societies by Bill W." -- formerly called "Bill on Alcoholism" and earlier "Alcoholism the
Illness.")
218.
... A.A. groups
themselves ought to be fully ...
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Seven (Long)
Seven -- The A.A. groups themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their own members.
219.
... A.A. groups
themselves ought to be fully ...
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
7. The A.A. groups themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their own members.
220.
... A.A. groups
would have to reach quickly ...
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
221.
... A.A.'s growth,
and a striking phenomenon of ...
BB xxiii,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
Literature has played
a major role in A.A.'s growth, and a striking phenomenon of
the past quarter-century has been the explosion of translations of our basic literature into many languages and dialects.
222.
... A.A. had
a very special meaning.
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
223.
A.A. had
become a national institution.
BB xviii,
Foreword to Second Edition
224.
... A.A., had
brought us within reach of ...
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
225.
... A.A. had
suddenly gone peaceable, and become ...
12&12 p.177,
Tradition Ten
Maybe this sounds as though the alcoholics in
A.A. had suddenly gone peaceable, and become one great big happy family.
226.
A.A. had
taken its first step in ...
12&12 p.142,
Tradition Three
227.
... A.A. had
to be publicized somehow, so ...
12&12 p.181,
Tradition Eleven
Obviously, A.A. had to be
publicized somehow,
so we resorted to the idea
that it would be far better
to let our friends do this
for us.
228.
... A.A. had
to function.
12&12 p.161,
Tradition Seven
229.
... A.A.'s had
to hang together or die ...
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
But out of this frightening and at first
disrupting experience the conviction grew that A.A.'s had to hang together or die separately.
230.
... A.A. has
an irresistible strength of purpose ...
12&12 p.130,
Tradition One
They see liberty verging on license, yet they recognize at once that A.A. has an irresistible strength
of purpose and action.
231.
... A.A. has
become, for nearly every practical ...
BB p.574,
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form)
II. The General Service Conference of
A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience
of our whole Society in its world affairs.
232.
A.A. has
flourishing communities in the British ...
BB xv,
Foreword to Second Edition
A.A. has flourishing communities in the British Isles, the Scandinavian countries, South Africa, South America, Mexico, Alaska, Australia and Hawaii.
233.
... A.A. has
found that he can make ...
12&12 p.77,
Step Eight
Every A.A. has found that he can make little headway in this new adventure of living until he first backtracks and really makes an accurate and unsparing
survey of the human wreckage he has left in his
wake.
234.
... A.A. has
just about doubled, to an ...
BB xxiii,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
Since the third edition
was published in 1976, worldwide membership
of A.A. has just about doubled, to an estimated
two million or more, with nearly 100,800 groups meeting in approximately 150 countries around the world.
235.
A.A. has
many single alcoholics who wish ...
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
236.
... A.A. has
offset the damage to family ...
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
To a surprising extent, A.A. has offset the damage to family life brought about by years of alcoholism.
237.
... A.A. has
released thousands of alcoholics from ...
BB p.114,
To Wives
Since this book was first published, A.A. has released thousands of alcoholics from asylums
and hospitals of every
kind.
238.
A.A. has
to function, but at the ...
12&12 p.175,
Tradition Nine
A.A. has to function, but
at the same time it must avoid those dangers of great wealth, prestige, and entrenched power which necessarily tempt other societies.
239.
... A.A. has
wrought in all of us.
12&12 p.160,
Tradition Seven
240.
... A.A. have
a real leadership?"
12&12 p.134,
Tradition Two
241.
... A.A., have
admitted defeat, have acquired the ...
12&12 p.38,
Step Three
So it is by circumstance rather than by any virtue that we have been driven to A.A., have admitted defeat, have acquired the rudiments
of faith, and now want to make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to a Higher Power.
242.
... A.A. have
an earning power considerably above ...
12&12 p.121,
Step Twelve
We forgot that most alcoholics in A.A. have an
earning power considerably above average; we forgot the immense goodwill of our brother A.A.'s who were only
too eager to help us to better jobs when we deserved them; we forgot
the actual or potential
financial insecurity of every human being in the world.
243.
... A.A.'s have
attached themselves have been ill-conceived, ...
12&12 p.171,
Tradition Eight
True, some of the projects
to which A.A.'s have attached themselves
have been ill-conceived,
but that makes not the slightest difference
with the principle involved.
244.
... A.A.'s have
"become entirely ready" to have ...
12&12 p.64,
Step Six
So in a very complete and
literal way, all A.A.'s have "become entirely ready" to have God remove the mania for alcohol from their
lives.
245.
... A.A.'s have
ever worked the Twelfth Step ...
12&12 p.166,
Tradition Eight
This has always been so obvious that only a very few A.A.'s have ever worked the Twelfth Step for a fee.
246.
... A.A.'s have
found, too, that unless they ...
12&12 p.70,
Step Seven
Nearly all A.A.'s have found, too, that unless they
develop much more of this precious quality than may be required just for sobriety, they still haven't
much chance of becoming truly happy.
247.
... A.A.'s have
known from the very beginning ...
12&12 p.176,
Tradition Ten
As by some deep instinct,
we A.A.'s have known from the
very beginning that we must never, no matter what the provocation, publicly
take sides in any fight, even a worthy one.
248.
... A.A. have
very happy homes.
12&12 p.117,
Step Twelve
249.
... A.A.'s, he
is not.
12&12 p.32,
Step Two
To most A.A.'s, he is not.
250.
... A.A. headquarters,
asking, "Is there anything in ...
12&12 p.158,
Tradition Six
Straightway he appeared at New York's A.A. headquarters, asking,
"Is there anything in our tradition that suggests
I shouldn't take a job like this one?
251.
... A.A.'s headquarters
in New York, wanting to ...
12&12 p.148,
Tradition Four
They wrote the Foundation(*), A.A.'s headquarters in New York, wanting to know about this sort of streamlining.
252.
... A.A.'s headquarters
in New York would be ...
12&12 p.173,
Tradition Nine
253.
... A.A. heart
that one day our name ...
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
Perhaps the fear will always lurk in every A.A. heart that one day our name will be exploited by somebody
for real cash.
254.
... A.A. hired
out to such enterprises, he ...
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
In former days, the moment an A.A. hired out to such enterprises, he was
immediately tempted
to use the name Alcoholics Anonymous
for publicity or money-raising purposes.
255.
... A.A. history.
12&12 p.165,
Tradition Seven
256.
... A.A. history,
and soon have the solid ...
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
Then they commence to watch us with speculative
eyes, pick up a fragment of A.A. history, and soon have the solid facts.
257.
... A.A. hospitals
-- they all bogged down because ...
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
Whereupon we tried A.A. hospitals -- they all bogged down because you cannot put an A.A. group into business; too many busybody cooks spoil the broth.
258.
... A.A., if
we go on growing, our ...
12&12 p.115,
Step Twelve
After we come into A.A., if we go on growing, our attitudes
and actions toward security -- emotional security and financial
security -- commence
to change profoundly.
259.
... A.A. in
big-time trouble, and this would ...
12&12 p.159,
Tradition Six
260.
... A.A. in
our Fellowship breaks anonymity at ...
12&12 p.171,
Tradition Eight
It is significant, now
that almost no A.A. in our Fellowship breaks anonymity at the public level, that nearly all these fears have subsided.
261.
... A.A. in
the wills of people still ...
12&12 p.164,
Tradition Seven
They pointed out that the Foundation board already knew of a total of half a million dollars set aside for A.A. in the wills of people still alive.
262.
... A.A. in
this town.
12&12 p.133,
Tradition Two
They say to one another, "Perhaps it would
be a good idea if we continue to keep a firm hand on A.A. in this town.
263.
... A.A. in
your locality, visit our Web ...
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
If you cannot find A.A. in
your locality, visit our
Web site: www.aa.org; or a letter addressed to Alcoholics Anonymous,
Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, USA, will receive a prompt reply from this world center, referring you to the nearest A.A. group.
264.
... A.A.'s inquire
once more just what our ...
12&12 p.76,
Step Seven
As we approach the actual taking of Step Seven, it might be well if we A.A.'s inquire once more just what our deeper objectives are.
265.
... A.A. into
the dark regions of dope ...
12&12 p.155,
Tradition Six
266.
... A.A. is
a group unto themselves and ...
BB p.569(571),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
Dr. G. Kirby Collier, psychiatrist:
"I have felt that A.A. is a group unto themselves and their best
results can be had under
their own guidance, as a result of their philosophy.
267.
... A.A. is
a loving God as He ...
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
These practical folk then
read Tradition Two, and learn that the sole authority in A.A. is a loving God as He may express Himself in the group conscience.
268.
... A.A. is,
and what we are trying ...
12&12 p.84,
Step Nine
269.
... A.A. is
by far the greatest thing ...
BB p.570(572),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
Dr. John F. Stouffer, Chief Psychiatrist, Philadelphia General
Hospital, citing his experience with A.A., said: "The alcoholics we get here at Philadelphia General
are mostly those who cannot
afford private treatment, and A.A. is by far the greatest thing we have been able to offer them.
270.
... A.A. is
composed of over 100,000 groups.
BB p.16,
Bill's Story (Note)
271.
... A.A. is
established in 150 countries.
12&12 p.18,
Foreword (Note)
272.
... A.A. is
full of people who once ...
12&12 p.26,
Step Two
273.
AA is
not allied with any sect, ...
Grapevine,
Preamble
AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish
to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
274.
... A.A. is
one of the greatest assets ...
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
275.
... A.A. is
reaching out, not only to ...
BB xxii,
Foreword to Third Edition
Surveys of groups in the
United States and Canada indicate that A.A. is reaching out, not only to more and more people, but to a wider and wider range.
276.
... A.A. is
really saying to every serious ...
12&12 p.139,
Tradition Three
277.
... A.A.'s is
relatively high, we have some ...
12&12 p.114,
Step Twelve
Though the earning power of most A.A.'s is relatively high, we have
some members who never seem to get on their feet moneywise, and still others who encounter heavy financial reverses.
278.
... A.A. is
the only safe harbor for ...
12&12 p.35,
Step Three
Any willing newcomer feels sure A.A. is the only safe harbor for the foundering vessel he has
become.
279.
... A.A., it
amounts to a clear recognition ...
12&12 p.58,
Step Five
To those who have made progress in A.A., it amounts to a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a
sincere attempt to become what we could be.
280.
... A.A., it
is suggested that you write ...
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
Should you be the relative or friend of an alcoholic who
shows no immediate interest in
A.A., it is suggested
that you write the Al-Anon Family Groups, Inc., 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, USA.
281.
... A.A. its
present form, substance, and unity.
12&12 p.18,
Foreword
The Tradition section
of this volume portrays
in some detail the experience which finally
produced the Twelve Traditions and so gave
A.A. its present form, substance, and unity.
282.
... A.A. itself.
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
Though the essays which follow were written mainly for members, it is thought by many of A.A.'s friends that these pieces might arouse interest and find application outside
A.A. itself.
283.
... A.A. itself
function without full-time workers.
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
284.
... A.A. itself,
is possible to anyone.
12&12 p.34,
Step Three
We saw that we were powerless over alcohol, but we also perceived that faith of
some kind, if only in A.A. itself, is possible to anyone.
285.
... A.A. itself
might survive.
12&12 p.131,
Tradition One
As we had once struggled
and prayed for individual recovery, just so earnestly did we commence to quest for the principles through which
A.A. itself might survive.
286.
... A.A. itself
your 'higher power.'
12&12 p.27,
Step Two
287.
... A.A. knowledge
and experience were being sold ...
12&12 p.167,
Tradition Eight
In all these instances, and more, it was claimed that
A.A. knowledge and experience were being sold for money, hence these people, too, were
professionals.
288.
... A.A. landscape
seems to be littered with ...
12&12 p.135,
Tradition Two
289.
... A.A. life.
12&12 p.21,
Step One
290.
... A.A. life
confirm this ageless truth.
12&12 p.98,
Step Eleven
291.
... A.A. life
everywhere.
12&12 p.187,
Tradition Twelve
292.
... A.A. life
which brought us to this ...
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
293.
A.A.'s lifelines
have to be tended.
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
294.
... A.A. looked
more like one prodigious squabble ...
12&12 p.177,
Tradition Ten
Before we leveled off a
bit, A.A. looked more like one prodigious squabble
than anything else, at least on the surface.
295.
... A.A. maintains
its unity and relates itself ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
They outline the means by
which A.A. maintains its unity and relates itself to the world about it, the way it lives and grows.
296.
... A.A. managers
are usually preferred.
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Six (Long)
297.
... A.A. managers
are usually preferred.
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
298.
A.A.'s manner
of making ready to receive ...
12&12 p.107,
Step Twelve
A.A.'s manner of making ready to receive this gift lies in the practice of the
Twelve Steps in our program.
299.
... A.A." meet
the most stubborn resistance or, ...
12&12 p.173,
Tradition Nine
He and all like him who "view
with alarm for the good of
A.A." meet the most stubborn resistance or,
worse still, laughter.
300.
... A.A. meeting
is an assurance that God ...
12&12 p.33,
Step Two
True humility and an open mind can lead us to faith, and every A.A. meeting is an assurance
that God will restore us to sanity if we
rightly relate ourselves to Him.
301.
... A.A. meetings
all over the world, statements ...
12&12 p.64,
Step Six
302.
... A.A. meetings
and at first decided they ...
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
303.
... A.A. meetings
and listen, not only to ...
12&12 p.110,
Step Twelve
We sit in A.A. meetings and listen, not
only to receive something ourselves,
but to give the reassurance and support
which our presence can bring.
304.
... A.A. meetings
because they were "making money ...
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
305.
... A.A. member.
12&12 p.63,
Step Six
Of course, the often disputed question of whether God can -- and will, under certain conditions -- remove defects of character will be answered with a prompt affirmative by almost any A.A. member.
306.
... A.A. member
acting as a citizen can ...
12&12 p.171,
Tradition Eight
If an A.A. member acting as a citizen can become a better researcher, educator,
personnel officer,
then why not?
307.
... A.A. member
and make it stick, let ...
12&12 p.173,
Tradition Nine
Neither its General Service Conference, its Foundation Board,(*) nor the humblest group committee can issue a single directive to an A.A. member and make it stick, let alone mete out any punishment.
308.
... A.A. member
be?"
12&12 p.185,
Tradition Twelve
309.
... A.A. member
carry our knowledge into other ...
12&12 p.167,
Tradition Eight
But when we had declared that our Fellowship couldn't hire service workers nor could any A.A. member carry our knowledge into other fields, we were taking the counsel of fear, fear which today has been largely dispelled in the light of
experience.
310.
... A.A. member
declares that no satisfaction has ...
12&12 p.110,
Step Twelve
Practically every
A.A. member declares that no satisfaction has been deeper and no joy greater than in a Twelfth Step job well done.
311.
... A.A. member
follows to the best of ...
12&12 p.174,
Tradition Nine
Unless each A.A. member follows to the best of his ability our suggested Twelve Steps to recovery, he almost certainly signs his own death warrant.
312.
... A.A. member
has been granted a release ...
12&12 p.64,
Step Six
It is plain for everybody to see that each sober A.A. member has been granted a release from this
very obstinate and potentially fatal obsession.
313.
... A.A. member
has to conform to the ...
12&12 p.130,
Tradition One
314.
... A.A. member's
house and, unknown to the ...
12&12 p.144,
Tradition Three
About two weeks later, Ed stole by night into an A.A. member's house and, unknown to the family, went to bed.
315.
... A.A. member
if this really works.
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
316.
... A.A. member
if you say so.
12&12 p.139,
Tradition Three
317.
... A.A. member
is personal sobriety, the aim ...
12&12 p.175,
Tradition Nine
Just as the aim of each A.A. member is personal sobriety, the aim of our services is to bring sobriety within reach of all who want it.
318.
... A.A. member's
name -- and story, too -- had ...
12&12 p.185,
Tradition Twelve
319.
... A.A. member
solely because of his public ...
12&12 p.158,
Tradition Six
Of course, there couldn't be the slightest objection if
such an association hired an A.A. member solely because of his public relations ability and his
knowledge of alcoholism.
320.
... A.A. member
the minute you declare yourself."
12&12 p.139,
Tradition Three
321.
... A.A. member
to break his anonymity at ...
12&12 p.158,
Tradition Six
But that wasn't the whole story, for in this case not only
was an A.A. member to break his anonymity at a public level, he was to link the name Alcoholics Anonymous
to this particular educational project in
the minds of millions.
322.
... A.A. member
to educate the public on ...
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
323.
... A.A. member
who was living in a ...
BB p.163,
A Vision For You
324.
... A.A. members.
12&12 p.176,
Tradition Ten
It could almost be said that
we were born with it, for, as one oldtimer recently declared, "Practically never have I
heard a heated religious, political,
or reform argument among A.A. members.
325.
... A.A. members.
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
This is a world clearing
house for the Al-Anon Family Groups, composed largely of the wives, husbands and friends of
A.A. members.
326.
... A.A. members,
and whose story of the ...
BB xvi,
Foreword to Second Edition
He had also been greatly helped by the late Dr. William D. Silkworth, a New York specialist in alcoholism who is now accounted no less than a medical saint by A.A. members, and whose story of the early days of our Society appears in the next pages.
327.
... A.A. members
are left who deliberately break ...
12&12 p.183,
Tradition Eleven
328.
... A.A. members
as individuals have been asked ...
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
329.
... A.A. members
began to run rest homes ...
12&12 p.167,
Tradition Eight
Even greater furors were provoked when
A.A. members began to run rest homes and farms for alcoholics, when
some hired out to corporations as personnel men in charge of the alcoholic problem in industry, when
some became nurses on alcoholic wards, when others entered the field of alcohol education.
330.
... A.A. members
both among fellow alcoholics and ...
12&12 p.187,
Tradition Twelve
Moved by the spirit of anonymity, we try to give up our natural desires for personal distinction
as A.A. members both among fellow alcoholics and before the general public.
331.
... (A.A. members'
fond nickname for this volume) ...
BB xii,
Preface
All changes made over the years in the Big Book (A.A. members' fond nickname for this volume) have had the same purpose: to represent the
current membership of
Alcoholics Anonymous more accurately, and thereby
to reach more alcoholics.
332.
... A.A. members
have bought farms or rest ...
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
Now and then, A.A. members have bought farms or rest homes where badly beat-up topers could find needed care.
333.
... A.A. members
have suffered severely from self-justification ...
12&12 p.46,
Step Four
First off, they can be told
that the majority of A.A.
members have suffered
severely from self-justification during
their drinking days.
334.
... A.A. members
into A.A. show-offs.
12&12 p.185,
Tradition Twelve
335.
... A.A. members
of that time.
12&12 p.123,
Step Twelve
336.
... A.A. members
ought not be broadcast, filmed, ...
12&12 p.192,
Tradition Eleven (Long)
337.
... A.A. members
ought not be broadcast, filmed, ...
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
338.
... A.A. members
recover and by which their ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
It presents an explicit view of the principles by which A.A. members recover and by
which their Society functions.
339.
... A.A. members
resolved to keep our Society ...
12&12 p.179,
Tradition Ten
As we surveyed the wreck
of that movement, early
A.A. members resolved to keep our Society out of public controversy.
340.
... A.A. members
served them.
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
Drunk farms, educational ventures,
state legislatures,
and commissions advertised the fact that
A.A. members served them.
341.
... A.A. members
to tell their stories.
BB xviii,
Foreword to Second Edition
In the spring of 1940, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. gave a dinner for many of his friends to which he invited
A.A. members to tell their stories.
342.
... A.A. members
who, for a variety of ...
12&12 p.120,
Step Twelve
343.
... A.A. members
with computers can participate in ...
BB xxiv,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
Taking advantage of technological advances, for example,
A.A. members with computers can participate in meetings online, sharing with fellow alcoholics across the country or around the world.
344.
... A.A. membership
ever depend upon money or ...
12&12 p.189,
Tradition Three (Long)
345.
... A.A. membership
ever depend upon money or ...
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
346.
... A.A.'s membership
has been led to us ...
12&12 p.180,
Tradition Eleven
It is no exaggeration to
say that half of A.A.'s membership has been led to us through channels like these.
347.
... A.A. membership
is a desire to stop ...
12&12 p.139,
Tradition Three
348.
... A.A. membership
is a desire to stop ...
12&12 p.144,
Tradition Three
349.
... A.A. membership
is a desire to stop ...
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
350.
... AA membership;
we are self-supporting through our ...
Grapevine,
Preamble
351.
... A.A.'s membership,
will give such inquirers an ...
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
The second section of
this volume, though designed for A.A.'s membership, will give such inquirers an inside view of A.A. never before possible.
352.
... A.A.'s message.
12&12 p.110,
Step Twelve
353.
... A.A.'s message.
12&12 p.111,
Step Twelve
Perhaps this will happen in a succession of
cases, and we may be deeply
discouraged as to our ability to carry A.A.'s message.
354.
... A.A. message.
12&12 p.130,
Tradition One
355.
... A.A.'s message.
12&12 p.181,
Tradition Eleven
356.
... A.A.'s message
before scores of people.
12&12 p.142,
Tradition Three
357.
... A.A.'s message
could be transmitted in the ...
BB xviii,
Foreword to Second Edition
New groups started up and it was found, to the astonishment of everyone, that A.A.'s message could be transmitted in the mail as
well as by word of mouth.
358.
... A.A. message,
sweeping changes in society as ...
BB xxiv,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
While our literature
has preserved the integrity of the A.A. message, sweeping changes in society as a whole are reflected in new customs and practices within the Fellowship.
359.
... A.A. message
to more than 5,000 alcoholic ...
BB p.171,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
To 1950, the year of his death, he carried the A.A. message to more than 5,000 alcoholic men and women, and to all these he gave
his medical services without thought of charge.
360.
... A.A.'s message
to the next alcoholic.
12&12 p.110,
Step Twelve
To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, to see whole families reassembled,
to see the alcoholic outcast received back into his community in
full citizenship, and
above all to watch these people awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives -- these things are the substance
of what we receive as we carry A.A.'s message to the next alcoholic.
361.
... A.A.'s message
to the next sufferer?
12&12 p.24,
Step One
362.
... A.A. message
to those who don't know ...
12&12 p.151,
Tradition Five
Under these compulsions of self-preservation, duty, and
love, it is not strange
that our Society has concluded that it has but one
high mission -- to carry the A.A. message to those who don't know there's a way out.
363.
... A.A. might
have been!"
12&12 p.129,
Tradition One
Back again in their caves, alcoholics would reproach us and say, "What a
great thing A.A. might have been!"
364.
... A.A. more
effective, how to do the ...
12&12 p.178,
Tradition Ten
Let it be noted, too, that
they were almost always concerned with ways to make A.A. more effective, how to do
the most good for the most alcoholics.
365.
... A.A., moves
-- let us say -- to Middletown, ...
12&12 p.132,
Tradition Two
366.
... A.A. must
always stay poor.
12&12 p.165,
Tradition Seven
367.
A.A. must
continue to live or most ...
12&12 p.189,
Tradition One (Long)
368.
A.A. must
continue to live or most ...
BB p.563(565),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
369.
... A.A. must
hit bottom first?
12&12 p.24,
Step One
370.
... A.A. my
reaction was just like yours.
12&12 p.27,
Step Two
371.
... A.A. name.
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Six (Long)
372.
... A.A. name.
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
373.
... A.A. name
behind any meritorious cause.
12&12 p.155,
Tradition Six
In fact, we felt duty-bound to throw the whole weight of the A.A. name behind any meritorious cause.
374.
... A.A.'s name
for his own purposes, the ...
12&12 p.187,
Tradition Twelve
If even one publicly got drunk, or was lured into using A.A.'s name for his own purposes, the damage might
be irreparable.
375.
... A.A. name
from clubs and Twelfth Step ...
12&12 p.157,
Tradition Six
376.
... A.A. name
ought never be drawn into ...
12&12 p.176,
Tradition Ten
"Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."
377.
... A.A. name
ought never be drawn into ...
12&12 p.179,
Tradition Ten
Thus was laid the cornerstone for Tradition Ten: "Alcoholics Anonymous
has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."
378.
... A.A. name
ought never be drawn into ...
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Ten -- Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
379.
... A.A. name
to any cause other than ...
12&12 p.159,
Tradition Six
380.
... A.A. name
to any related facility or ...
12&12 p.155,
Tradition Six
"An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our
primary purpose."
381.
... A.A. name
to any related facility or ...
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Six -- An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary
purpose.
382.
... A.A. needed
a lot of money; that ...
12&12 p.153,
Tradition Five
Suppose my answer had to
be that A.A. needed a lot of money; that A.A. went in for education, hospitals,
and rehabilitation?
383.
... A.A. never
before possible.
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
The second section of
this volume, though designed for A.A.'s membership, will give such inquirers an inside view of A.A. never before possible.
384.
... A.A. newcomers
are confronted with a dilemma, ...
12&12 p.25,
Step Two
The moment they read Step Two, most A.A. newcomers are confronted with a dilemma, sometimes a serious one.
385.
... A.A. no
member can be set in ...
12&12 p.16,
Foreword
Why is it, they ask, that in
A.A. no member can be set in personal authority over another, that nothing like a central government can
anywhere be seen?
386.
... A.A. now
enters maturity, it has begun ...
12&12 p.18,
Foreword
387.
... A.A. Number
Three.
BB p.156,
A Vision For You (Note)
388.
... A.A. number
three.
BB xvii,
Foreword to Second Edition
389.
... A.A. numbered
8,000 members.
BB xviii,
Foreword to Second Edition
390.
... A.A. of
membership, that we must never ...
12&12 p.141,
Tradition Three
Why did we dare to say, contrary to the experience of society
and government everywhere, that we would neither punish nor deprive any A.A. of membership, that we must never compel anyone to pay anything, believe anything, or conform to anything?
391.
... A.A. of
today.
12&12 p.178,
Tradition Ten
392.
... A.A. offer
them satisfactions of similar worth ...
12&12 p.120,
Step Twelve
If they cannot have this kind of happiness, can A.A. offer them satisfactions of similar worth and durability?
393.
... A.A. offices,
clubs, and homes, telephones ring ...
12&12 p.180,
Tradition Eleven
394.
... A.A. oldtimers,
sober for years, often pay ...
12&12 p.56,
Step Five
395.
... A.A. on
television...."
12&12 p.180,
Tradition Eleven
One voice says, "I read a piece in the newspapers..."; another,
"We heard a radio program..."; and still another, "We saw a moving picture..." or "We saw something about A.A. on television...."
396.
... A.A., once
agnostic or atheistic, tells us ...
12&12 p.62,
Step Five
Many an A.A., once agnostic or atheistic, tells us that it
was during this stage of Step Five that he first actually felt the presence of God.
397.
... "A.A." or
"Alcoholics Anonymous" in telephone directories.
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
These so-called intergroup associations are found
under the listing "A.A." or "Alcoholics Anonymous" in telephone
directories.
398.
... A.A., or
indeed any man, who tries ...
12&12 p.103,
Step Eleven
The A.A., or indeed any man, who tries to run his life rigidly by this kind of prayer, by this self-serving demand of God for replies, is a particularly disconcerting individual.
399.
... A.A. or
still drinking).
12&12 p.118,
Step Twelve (Note)
Not a part of A.A., this worldwide fellowship
consists of spouses and
other relatives or friends of alcoholics
(in A.A. or still drinking).
400.
... A.A.'s other
group received into its membership ...
12&12 p.143,
Tradition Three
Not long after the man with the double stigma knocked for admission, A.A.'s other group received into its membership a salesman
we shall call Ed.
401.
... A.A. ought
to avoid sensational advertising.
12&12 p.192,
Tradition Eleven (Long)
402.
... A.A. ought
to avoid sensational advertising.
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
403.
... A.A.'s pioneering
days.
12&12 p.182,
Tradition Eleven
With perfectly good intent, these folks declared that the principle of anonymity
was horse-and-buggy stuff, something appropriate to A.A.'s pioneering days.
404.
... A.A.'s pioneering
time, none but the most ...
12&12 p.22,
Step One
In A.A.'s pioneering time, none but the most desperate cases could swallow and digest this unpalatable truth.
405.
... A.A. pitch.
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
At the Foundation(*) and intergroup offices, we
couldn't employ nonalcoholics as secretaries; we had to have people who knew the A.A. pitch.
406.
... A.A. plan
is described by the members ...
BB p.572(574),
Appendix V, The Religious View on A.A.
407.
... A.A. practices
it, is really a means ...
12&12 p.36,
Step Three
Therefore dependence, as A.A. practices it, is really a
means of gaining true independence of the
spirit.
408.
... A.A. presented
a strange and refreshing spectacle.
12&12 p.165,
Tradition Seven
To people familiar with
endless drives for charitable funds, A.A. presented a strange and refreshing
spectacle.
409.
... A.A. principles
with all the fervor with ...
12&12 p.22,
Step One
But a few did, and when these laid hold of A.A. principles with all the
fervor with which the drowning seize life preservers, they almost invariably got well.
410.
... A.A. problem
ranging from a lonely-heart Eskimo ...
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
Sacks of letters on every conceivable A.A. problem ranging from a lonely-heart Eskimo to the growing pains of thousands of groups must be answered by people who know.
411.
... A.A. professionals
these workers of ours who ...
12&12 p.167,
Tradition Eight
Ignoring the fact that
these labors were not Twelfth Step jobs at all, the critics attacked as A.A. professionals these workers of ours who were often doing thankless tasks that no one else
could or would do.
412.
... A.A. program."
BB p.569(571),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
I now conceive the psychiatrist's job to be
the task of breaking down the patient's inner resistance so that
which is inside him will flower, as under the activity of the A.A. program."
413.
... A.A. program
as a guide for husbands, ...
BB p.121,
To Wives (Note)
Though it is entirely separate from Alcoholics Anonymous,
it uses the general principles of the A.A. program as a guide for husbands, wives, relatives, friends and others close to alcoholics.
414.
... A.A.'s program
as enthusiastically as I could.
12&12 p.27,
Step Two
To acquire it, I had only to stop fighting and practice the rest of A.A.'s program as enthusiastically as I could.
415.
... A.A. program
can be practiced with success ...
12&12 p.40,
Step Three
Then it is explained that other Steps of the A.A. program can be practiced with success
only when Step Three is given a determined and persistent trial.
416.
... A.A. program
come in.
12&12 p.40,
Step Three
417.
... A.A.'s program
has been made.
12&12 p.39,
Step Three
Of course the sponsor points out that our friend's life is still unmanageable even though he is sober, that after all, only a
bare start on A.A.'s program has been made.
418.
... A.A. program,
it appears, hold good for ...
BB xxii,
Foreword to Third Edition
The basic principles of
the A.A. program, it appears, hold good for individuals with
many different lifestyles, just as the program has brought recovery to those of many different nationalities.
419.
... A.A. program
requires no willpower; here is ...
12&12 p.61,
Step Five
No one ought to say the A.A. program requires no willpower; here is one place you may require all you've got.
420.
... A.A. program
unless they have hit bottom.
12&12 p.24,
Step One
The answer is that few people will sincerely try to practice the A.A. program unless they have hit bottom.
421.
... A.A. program
will rest upon how well ...
12&12 p.34,
Step Three
In fact, the effectiveness of the whole A.A. program will rest upon how well and earnestly we have
tried to come to "a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him."
422.
... A.A.'s proved
willingness to make these sacrifices ...
12&12 p.184,
Tradition Twelve
It is A.A.'s proved willingness to make these
sacrifices that gives
people their high confidence in our future.
423.
... A.A. purpose.
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Seven (Long)
Then, too, we view with much
concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose.
424.
... A.A. purpose.
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Then too, we view with much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose.
425.
... A.A. purse
for final effectiveness.
BB p.575,
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form)
The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the A.A. purse for final effectiveness.
426.
... A.A. real
cheap.
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
427.
... A.A. recovery
program, has been left untouched ...
BB xi,
Preface
Therefore, the first portion of this volume, describing the A.A. recovery program, has been
left untouched in the course of revisions made for the second, third, and fourth editions.
428.
... A.A.'s remaining
eleven Steps means the adoption ...
12&12 p.24,
Step One
For practicing A.A.'s remaining eleven Steps means the adoption of attitudes
and actions that almost
no alcoholic who is still drinking can dream of taking.
429.
... A.A.'s safe
at home did.
12&12 p.38,
Step Three
430.
... A.A., said:
"The alcoholics we get here ...
BB p.570(572),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
Dr. John F. Stouffer, Chief Psychiatrist, Philadelphia General
Hospital, citing his experience with A.A., said: "The alcoholics we get here at Philadelphia General
are mostly those who cannot
afford private treatment, and A.A. is by far the greatest thing we have been able to offer them.
431.
... A.A.'s says:
"We were plumb disgusted with ...
12&12 p.30,
Step Two
432.
... A.A. seed
was planted, it has taken ...
BB xxiii,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
In country after country where the A.A. seed was planted, it has taken root, slowly at first, then growing by leaps and bounds when literature
has become available.
433.
... A.A.'s seem
to have the ability, by ...
12&12 p.114,
Step Twelve
Our basic troubles are
the same as everyone else's, but when an honest effort is made "to practice these principles in all our affairs," well-grounded A.A.'s seem to have the ability, by
God's grace, to take these troubles in stride and turn them into demonstrations of faith.
434.
... A.A.'s service
structure remain responsive and responsible ...
BB p.574,
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form)
Written by co-founder Bill W. in 1962, the Twelve Concepts for World Service provide a group of related principles to help ensure that various elements of A.A.'s service structure remain responsive and responsible to those they
serve.
435.
... A.A.'s share
experience, strength, and hope with ...
BB xxiv,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
In any meeting, anywhere, A.A.'s share experience, strength, and hope with each other, in order to stay sober and help other alcoholics.
436.
... A.A. should
be separately incorporated and managed, ...
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Six (Long)
We think, therefore,
that any considerable
property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material
from the spiritual.
437.
... A.A. should
be separately incorporated and managed, ...
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
We think, therefore,
that any considerable
property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material
from the spiritual.
438.
... A.A. shouldn't
have any.
12&12 p.161,
Tradition Seven
As A.A. emerged from its infancy into adolescence, we swung
from the idea that we needed
vast sums of money to the notion that A.A. shouldn't have any.
439.
... A.A. show-offs.
12&12 p.185,
Tradition Twelve
440.
... A.A. showed
improvement.
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
Of alcoholics who came
to A.A. and really tried, 50% got sober at once and remained that way; 25% sobered up after some relapses, and among the remainder, those who stayed on with A.A. showed improvement.
441.
... A.A. showed
results, prodigious results.
12&12 p.27,
Step Two
442.
... A.A.'s simple
prayer:
12&12 p.125,
Step Twelve
With each passing day of our lives, may every one of us sense more deeply the inner meaning of A.A.'s simple prayer:
443.
... A.A.'s single
purpose, a member tells this ...
12&12 p.151,
Tradition Five
444.
... A.A. slang
as "elder statesmen" and "bleeding ...
12&12 p.135,
Tradition Two
Ultimately, they divide into two classes known in A.A. slang as "elder statesmen" and "bleeding deacons."
445.
... A.A. slang,
that blissful state is known ...
12&12 p.113,
Step Twelve
446.
... A.A.'s so
employed recklessly broke anonymity to ...
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
Unthinkingly, A.A.'s
so employed recklessly broke anonymity to thump the tub for their pet enterprise.
447.
A.A.'s sole
purpose was being compromised, and ...
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
448.
... A.A.'s speak
the language of the heart ...
BB xxiv,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
Modem-to-modem or face-to-face, A.A.'s speak the language of the heart in all
its power and simplicity.
449.
... A.A. speakers
to appear before civic organizations, ...
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
Soon, groups began to receive requests for A.A. speakers to appear before civic organizations, church
groups, and medical societies.
450.
... A.A.'s spend
most of their waking hours ...
12&12 p.89,
Step Ten
Must A.A.'s spend most of their waking hours drearily rehashing their sins of omission or commission?
451.
... A.A. spirit
and principle -- they get drunk.
12&12 p.135,
Tradition Two
452.
... A.A. spirit
into our daily work?
12&12 p.112,
Step Twelve
453.
... A.A. spiritual
or was it medical?
12&12 p.156,
Tradition Six
454.
... A.A. sponsor
usually laughs.
12&12 p.26,
Step Two
455.
... A.A. staff
members.
12&12 p.168,
Tradition Eight
456.
... A.A. stories.
12&12 p.187,
Tradition Twelve
457.
... A.A. such
a closed corporation that we ...
12&12 p.171,
Tradition Eight
We cannot declare A.A. such a closed corporation that we keep
our knowledge and experience top secret.
458.
... A.A., such
as clubs or hospitals which ...
12&12 p.190,
Tradition Six (Long)
Secondary aids to A.A., such as clubs or hospitals which require much property or administration, ought
to be incorporated and so set apart that, if necessary, they can be freely discarded by the groups.
459.
... A.A., such
as clubs or hospitals which ...
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Secondary aids to A.A., such as clubs or hospitals which require much property or administration, ought
to be incorporated and so set apart that, if necessary, they can be freely discarded by the groups.
460.
... A.A.'s suffer
lingering and fatal illness with ...
12&12 p.114,
Step Twelve
We have seen A.A.'s suffer lingering and fatal illness with little complaint, and often in good cheer.
461.
... A.A.'s suggested
inventory.
12&12 p.45,
Step Four
462.
... A.A. suggests
a fearless moral inventory, it ...
12&12 p.49,
Step Four
So when A.A. suggests a fearless moral inventory, it must seem to every newcomer that more is being asked of him than he can
do.
463.
... A.A.'s surveyed
are less than 30 years ...
BB xxii,
Foreword to Third Edition
Seven percent of the A.A.'s surveyed are less than 30 years of age -- among them, many in their teens.
464.
... A.A. take
any particular medical point of ...
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
Neither does A.A. take any particular medical point of view, though we cooperate widely with the men of medicine as well as with the
men of religion.
465.
... A.A. take
the gift?
12&12 p.164,
Tradition Seven
466.
... A.A. talks
for money, whether at a ...
12&12 p.166,
Tradition Eight
When an A.A. talks for money, whether at a meeting or to a single newcomer, it can have a very
bad effect on him, too.
467.
... A.A.'s tested
experience with Step Four.
12&12 p.46,
Step Four
468.
... A.A. that
had the closed mind, it ...
12&12 p.27,
Step Two
469.
... A.A. that
we know we can seldom ...
12&12 p.151,
Tradition Five
It is the great paradox of
A.A. that we know we can seldom keep the precious gift of sobriety unless we give it away.
470.
... A.A. that
we rediscovered it.
12&12 p.29,
Step Two
It was in A.A. that we rediscovered it.
471.
... A.A. --
the Conference, the General Service Board ...
BB p.574,
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form)
III. To insure effective leadership,
we should endow each element of A.A. -- the Conference, the General
Service Board and its service corporations, staffs,
committees, and executives -- with a traditional "Right of Decision."
472.
... A.A., the
fallacy of our defiance was ...
12&12 p.31,
Step Two
473.
... A.A. the
individual doesn't count for much?
12&12 p.129,
Tradition One
474.
... A.A., the
loss of confidence in our ...
12&12 p.185,
Tradition Twelve
When such stories got into circulation outside of A.A., the loss of confidence in our
anonymity promise was
severe.
475.
... A.A., the
movement, started and stayed broke, ...
12&12 p.161,
Tradition Seven
476.
... A.A. (the
trustees) administers A.A.'s General Service ...
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
The General Service Board of A.A. (the trustees) administers
A.A.'s General Service Office, A.A. World Services, Inc., and our monthly magazine, the
A.A. Grapevine.
477.
... A.A., the
wife may become discontented, even ...
12&12 p.118,
Step Twelve
After the husband joins A.A., the wife may become discontented, even highly resentful that Alcoholics Anonymous
has done the very thing that all her years of devotion had failed to do.
478.
... A.A. their
blessing.
BB p.572(574),
Appendix V, The Religious View on A.A.
479.
... A.A. these
are dangerous exceptions.
12&12 p.90,
Step Ten
480.
... A.A., these
attitudes were sharply reversed, often ...
12&12 p.120,
Step Twelve
Upon entering A.A., these attitudes were sharply reversed, often going much too far in the opposite direction.
481.
... A.A.'s, these
distorted drives have been restored ...
12&12 p.124,
Step Twelve
But today, in well-matured A.A.'s, these distorted drives have been
restored to something
like their true purpose and direction.
482.
... A.A., they
can become the facts of ...
12&12 p.112,
Step Twelve
And if these are facts of life for the many alcoholics who have recovered in A.A., they can
become the facts of life for many more.
483.
A.A., they
pointed out, included many persons ...
12&12 p.182,
Tradition Eleven
484.
... A.A., this
chapter assumes that the alcoholic ...
BB p.104,
To Wives (Note)
(*) Written in 1939, when
there were few women in A.A., this chapter assumes that the alcoholic in the home is likely to be the husband.
485.
... A.A.'s, this
often seems like a very ...
12&12 p.106,
Step Twelve
486.
... A.A., this
worldwide fellowship consists of spouses ...
12&12 p.118,
Step Twelve (Note)
Not a part of A.A., this worldwide fellowship
consists of spouses and
other relatives or friends of alcoholics
(in A.A. or still drinking).
487.
... A.A. to
almost anyone.
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
When opportunities to be helpful came along, he found he could talk easily about A.A. to almost anyone.
488.
... A.A. to
identify himself with, and bring ...
12&12 p.150,
Tradition Five
The unique ability of each A.A. to identify himself with, and
bring recovery to, the newcomer in no way depends upon his learning, eloquence, or on any special individual skills.
489.
... A.A. to
plump for their brand of ...
12&12 p.158,
Tradition Six
490.
... A.A. to
stop working on a chronic ...
12&12 p.173,
Tradition Nine
Committees have instructed many an A.A. to stop working on a chronic backslider, only to be told: "How I do my Twelfth Step work is my business.
491.
... A.A. too,
and Catholic participation in it ...
BB p.572(574),
Appendix V, The Religious View on A.A.
There is something spiritual about A.A. too,
and Catholic participation in it almost invariably results in poor Catholics becoming better Catholics."
492.
... A.A. tradition.
12&12 p.165,
Tradition Seven
At that moment, we believe, the principle of
corporate poverty was
firmly and finally embedded in A.A. tradition.
493.
... A.A. tradition?
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
The question was -- and sometimes still is -- are
such activities to be branded as professionalism under
A.A. tradition?
494.
... A.A. Tradition
and the receivers of voluntary ...
BB p.565(567),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
They are the custodians of our A.A. Tradition and the receivers of voluntary
A.A. contributions by
which we maintain our A.A.
General Service Office at New York.
495.
... A.A. tradition
carried this significant sentence: "Any ...
12&12 p.146,
Tradition Four
So confident of this had we become that the original statement of A.A. tradition carried this significant sentence:
"Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that as a group they have no other affiliation."
496.
... A.A.'s Tradition
Eleven was constructed.
12&12 p.183,
Tradition Eleven
497.
... A.A.'s Tradition
of nonprofessionalism.
12&12 p.171,
Tradition Eight
This is the exciting welter of events which has finally cast up A.A.'s Tradition of nonprofessionalism.
498.
... A.A. tradition,
taking care that it never ...
BB p.575,
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form)
XII. The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of
unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by
discussion, vote, and,
whenever possible, by
substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that
it never perform acts of government, and
that, like the Society it
serves, it will always remain democratic in thought
and action.
499.
... A.A. Traditions
as first printed in 1946.
BB p.561(563),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
500.
... A.A.'s Traditions
were first published, in 1946, ...
12&12 p.146,
Tradition Four
When A.A.'s Traditions
were first published, in
1946, we had become sure that an A.A. group could stand almost any amount of battering.
501.
... A.A.'s tread
innumerable paths in their quest ...
12&12 p.27,
Step Two
502.
... A.A. treasuries
which continue, beyond prudent reserves, ...
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Seven (Long)
Then, too, we view with much
concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose.
503.
... A.A. treasuries
which continue, beyond prudent reserves, ...
BB p.564(566),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Then too, we view with much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose.
504.
... A.A.'s Twelfth
Step.
12&12 p.125,
Step Twelve
Understanding is the key to right principles and attitudes, and right action is the key to good living; therefore the joy of good living is the theme of A.A.'s Twelfth Step.
505.
... A.A.'s Twelfth
Step."
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
506.
... A.A.'s Twelfth
Step, and action is its ...
12&12 p.106,
Step Twelve
507.
... A.A.'s Twelfth
Step work.
12&12 p.170,
Tradition Eight
508.
... A.A. Twelfth
Step work is never to ...
12&12 p.191,
Tradition Eight (Long)
509.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps.
12&12 p.70,
Step Seven
Indeed, the attainment
of greater humility is
the foundation principle of each of A.A.'s Twelve Steps.
510.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps.
12&12 p.112,
Step Twelve
We know this because we see monotony, pain, and even calamity turned to good use by those who keep on trying to practice A.A.'s Twelve Steps.
511.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps, and Step Three opens ...
12&12 p.40,
Step Three
To make this increasingly possible
is the purpose of A.A.'s Twelve Steps, and Step Three opens the door.
512.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps and tries to teach ...
12&12 p.118,
Step Twelve
513.
A.A.'s Twelve
Steps are a group of ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
A.A.'s Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual
in their nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole.
514.
A.A.'s Twelve
Steps are principles for personal ...
BB p.574,
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form)
515.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps ask us to go ...
12&12 p.55,
Step Five
All of A.A.'s Twelve Steps ask us to go contrary to our natural desires . . . they
all deflate our egos.
516.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps for us.
12&12 p.113,
Step Twelve
We temporarily cease
to grow because we feel satisfied that there is
no need for all of A.A.'s Twelve Steps for us.
517.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps in his home, often ...
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
518.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps now come to a ...
12&12 p.125,
Step Twelve
519.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps, these situations are often ...
12&12 p.118,
Step Twelve
520.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps, they have been able ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
Many people, nonalcoholics, report
that as a result of the practice of A.A.'s Twelve Steps, they have been
able to meet other difficulties of life.
521.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Steps we could lose those ...
12&12 p.121,
Step Twelve
But as time passed we found that with the help of
A.A.'s Twelve Steps we could lose those fears, no matter what our material prospects were.
522.
A.A.'s Twelve
Traditions apply to the life ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
523.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Traditions repeatedly ask us to ...
12&12 p.184,
Tradition Twelve
Because A.A.'s Twelve Traditions repeatedly ask us to give up personal desires for the
common good, we realize that the sacrificial spirit -- well symbolized by anonymity -- is the foundation of them all.
524.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Traditions, the group, too, can ...
12&12 p.174,
Tradition Nine
Unless there is approximate conformity to A.A.'s Twelve Traditions, the group, too, can deteriorate and die.
525.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Traditions took form and were ...
12&12 p.18,
Foreword
It was out of this vast welter of explosive experience that A.A.'s Twelve Traditions took form and were first published in 1946 and later confirmed at A.A.'s First International Convention, held at Cleveland in 1950.
526.
... A.A.'s Twelve
Traditions, which are stated in ...
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
This was the substance of A.A.'s Twelve Traditions, which are stated in full on page 561 of this book.
527.
... A.A. unity."
12&12 p.129,
Tradition One
528.
... A.A. unity.
BB p.562(564),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
529.
... A.A.'s unity
contain not a single "Don't."
12&12 p.129,
Tradition One
Our Twelve Steps to recovery are suggestions; the Twelve
Traditions which guarantee A.A.'s unity contain not a single "Don't."
530.
... A.A. unless
he has first accepted his ...
12&12 p.21,
Step One
We know that little good can come to any alcoholic who joins A.A. unless he has first accepted his devastating weakness
and all its consequences.
531.
... A.A., wants
to deprecate material achievement.
12&12 p.71,
Step Seven
532.
... A.A. was
all about.
12&12 p.186,
Tradition Twelve
Consequently, many groups began to hold meetings which were open to interested friends and the public, so
that the average citizen
could see for himself just what A.A. was all about.
533.
... A.A. was
beset by these very problems ...
BB xix,
Foreword to Second Edition
534.
... A.A. was
better for us than some ...
12&12 p.182,
Tradition Eleven
There was actually a time
when the press of America
thought the anonymity
of A.A. was better for us
than some of our own members
did.
535.
... A.A. was
born, and by God's grace ...
12&12 p.177,
Tradition Ten
That is the spiritual climate in which A.A. was born, and by God's grace has nevertheless
flourished.
536.
... A.A.") was
left unchanged.
BB xii,
Preface
537.
... A.A. was
now backing education -- liquor trade ...
12&12 p.158,
Tradition Six
538.
... A.A. was
on the pious side.
12&12 p.143,
Tradition Three
He browbeat everybody, and everybody expected that
he'd soon get drunk -- for at the time, you see, A.A. was on the pious side.
539.
... A.A. was
only three years old, an ...
12&12 p.135,
Tradition Two
540.
... A.A. was
quite young, a number of ...
12&12 p.122,
Step Twelve
When A.A. was quite young, a number of eminent psychologists
and doctors made an exhaustive study of a good-sized group of so-called problem drinkers.
541.
... A.A. was
read:
BB p.569(571),
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A.
Following are excerpts from the comments of doctors present at the annual meeting (1944) of the Medical Society of the State of New York where a paper on A.A. was read:
542.
... A.A. was
still young, lots of eager ...
12&12 p.147,
Tradition Four
543.
... A.A. was
the ministration of friends -- friends ...
BB xx,
Foreword to Second Edition
Another reason for the wide acceptance of A.A. was the ministration of
friends -- friends in medicine, religion, and
the press, together with
innumerable others
who became our able and persistent advocates.
544.
... A.A. was
to have a divorce rate ...
12&12 p.141,
Tradition Three
545.
... A.A. way
of life.
12&12 p.114,
Step Twelve
We have sometimes seen families broken apart by misunderstanding, tensions, or actual infidelity, who are reunited by the A.A. way of life.
546.
... A.A. way
of living to practical use, ...
12&12 p.88,
Step Ten
But when we approach Step
Ten we commence to put our A.A. way of living to practical use, day by day, in fair weather or foul.
547.
... A.A.'s way
of stating the best possible ...
12&12 p.65,
Step Six
So Step Six -- "Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character" --
is A.A.'s way of stating the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job.
548.
... A.A. we
found it imperative to remove ...
12&12 p.157,
Tradition Six
549.
... A.A., we
had to recognize that this ...
12&12 p.30,
Step Two
550.
... A.A. we
have found that the actual ...
12&12 p.104,
Step Eleven
551.
... A.A., we
learned better.
12&12 p.30,
Step Two
552.
... A.A., we
looked and listened.
12&12 p.75,
Step Seven
553.
... A.A. we
saw the fruits of this ...
12&12 p.31,
Step Two
554.
... A.A. we
slowly learned that something had ...
12&12 p.47,
Step Four
But in A.A. we slowly learned that something
had to be done about our vengeful resentments,
self-pity, and unwarranted pride.
555.
... A.A. we
soon take quite another view ...
12&12 p.21,
Step One
556.
... A.A. went
in for education, hospitals, and ...
12&12 p.153,
Tradition Five
Suppose my answer had to
be that A.A. needed a lot of money; that A.A. went in for education, hospitals,
and rehabilitation?
557.
... A.A.'s were
right. ..."
12&12 p.23,
Step One
558.
... A.A.'s were
thirty and under.
BB p.34,
More About Alcoholism (Note)
559.
... A.A. where
spirituality and money would mix, ...
12&12 p.163,
Tradition Seven
560.
... A.A. who
has a religious connection which ...
12&12 p.98,
Step Eleven
It is to be hoped that every
A.A. who has a religious
connection which emphasizes meditation
will return to the practice of that devotion
as never before.
561.
... A.A.'s who
have really tried a moral ...
12&12 p.49,
Step Four
But the testimony of A.A.'s who have really tried a moral inventory is that pride and
fear of this sort turn out to be bogeymen, nothing else.
562.
... A.A.'s who
marry "outside" A.A.
12&12 p.119,
Step Twelve
563.
... A.A. who
once thought as we did.
12&12 p.30,
Step Two
564.
... A.A.'s who
were only too eager to ...
12&12 p.121,
Step Twelve
We forgot that most alcoholics in A.A. have an
earning power considerably above average; we forgot the immense goodwill of our brother A.A.'s who were only
too eager to help us to better jobs when we deserved them; we forgot
the actual or potential
financial insecurity of every human being in the world.
565.
... A.A.'s who
wish to work as individuals ...
12&12 p.171,
Tradition Eight
We see that we have no right or need to discourage A.A.'s who wish to work as individuals in these wider fields.
566.
... A.A. will
naturally find that many of ...
12&12 p.51,
Step Four
567.
... A.A. will
tell how his affairs have ...
12&12 p.105,
Step Eleven
Almost any experienced A.A. will tell how his affairs have taken remarkable and unexpected turns for the
better as he tried to improve his conscious contact with God.
568.
... A.A. with
an enthusiasm which the most ...
12&12 p.182,
Tradition Eleven
Ever since, these friends
have reported A.A. with an
enthusiasm which the most ardent members would find hard to match.
569.
... A.A. with
the necessary experience.
12&12 p.157,
Tradition Six
570.
... A.A. won't
take advice or suggestions from ...
12&12 p.173,
Tradition Nine
This doesn't mean an A.A.
won't take advice or suggestions from more experienced members,
but he surely won't take orders.
571.
... A.A. work.
12&12 p.112,
Step Twelve
572.
... A.A. World
Services, Inc., and our monthly ...
BB p.573(575),
Appendix VI, How to Get in Touch With A.A.
The General Service Board of A.A. (the trustees) administers
A.A.'s General Service Office, A.A. World Services, Inc., and our monthly magazine, the
A.A. Grapevine.
573.
... A.A. world
services should always reside in ...
BB p.574,
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form)
I. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for
A.A. world services should always reside in the collective
conscience of our whole
Fellowship.
574.
... A.A. would
be able to do with ...
12&12 p.160,
Tradition Seven
575.
... A.A. would
be valuable, because the Fellowship ...
12&12 p.157,
Tradition Six
His connection with A.A.
would be valuable, because the Fellowship
stood high in public favor and hadn't an enemy in the world.
576.
... A.A. would
cease to beat; our world ...
12&12 p.129,
Tradition One
Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; our world arteries would no longer carry the life-giving grace of God; His gift to us would be spent aimlessly.
577.
... A.A. would
go even further.
12&12 p.56,
Step Five
578.
A.A. would
land exactly in the middle ...
12&12 p.158,
Tradition Six
Passages from the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous
and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
are reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
The A.A. Preamble, copyright ©
The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., is reprinted with permission.
Permission to reprint does not in any way imply affiliation with or
endorsement by either Alcoholics Anonymous or The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.
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