COURSE in Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous, 12 Steps and 12 Traditions

From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)

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courage

courageous

COURSE occurs 89 times (Definition from Merriam-Webster Online)

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... course. 12&12 p.21, Step One

Practically no one, of course.

... course. 12&12 p.27, Step Two

"This is only one man's opinion based on his own experience, of course.

... course. 12&12 p.147, Tradition Four

Beginning on the ground floor there would be a club; in the second story they would sober up drunks and hand them currency for their back debts; the third deck would house an educational project -- quite noncontroversial, of course.

... course." 12&12 p.154, Tradition Five

No place, of course."

... course. BB p.2, Bill's Story

Potential alcoholic that I was, I nearly failed my law course.

... course. BB p.142, To Employers

This may seem severe, but it is usually the best course.

... course a good doctor should always be ... BB p.114, To Wives

When they become too dangerous, we think the kind thing is to lock them up, but of course a good doctor should always be consulted.

... course ahead began to look easier. 12&12 p.47, Step Four

But once over the first two or three high hurdles, the course ahead began to look easier.

... course all A.A.'s, even the best, fall ... 12&12 p.112, Step Twelve

Of course all A.A.'s, even the best, fall far short of such achievements as a consistent thing.

10.

... course an alcoholic ought to be freed ... BB xxvii(xxv), The Doctor's Opinion

Of course an alcoholic ought to be freed from his physical craving for liquor, and this often requires a definite hospital procedure, before psychological measures can be of maximum benefit.

11.

... course, and obtained employment as investigator for ... BB p.2, Bill's Story

I took a night law course, and obtained employment as investigator for a surety company.

12.

... course, any amends still neglected. 12&12 p.94, Step Ten

Here we need only recognize that we did act or think badly, try to visualize how we might have done better, and resolve with God's help to carry these lessons over into tomorrow, making, of course, any amends still neglected.

13.

... course, are fundamentally good acts, but often ... 12&12 p.104, Step Eleven

Such prayers, of course, are fundamentally good acts, but often they are based upon a supposition that we know God's will for the person for whom we pray.

14.

... course, be referred to your own doctor. BB p.143, To Employers

The matter of physical treatment should, of course, be referred to your own doctor.

15.

... course, because there is no other way. 12&12 p.133, Tradition Two

These are the growing group's hierarchy of service -- self-appointed, of course, because there is no other way.

16.

... course, can be so impossibly damaged that ... 12&12 p.119, Step Twelve

Compatibility, of course, can be so impossibly damaged that a separation may be necessary.

17.

... course create great havoc without in the ... 12&12 p.104, Step Eleven

Under such an illusion, he can of course create great havoc without in the least intending it.

18.

... course depending upon a doctor's advice. BB p.133, The Family Afterward

One of the many doctors who had the opportunity of reading this book in manuscript form told us that the use of sweets was often helpful, of course depending upon a doctor's advice.

19.

... course, for drinking, and for all kinds ... 12&12 p.46, Step Four

For most of us, self-justification was the maker of excuses; excuses, of course, for drinking, and for all kinds of crazy and damaging conduct.

20.

... course, going to be very happy. BB p.117, To Wives

If you and your husband find a solution for the pressing problem of drink you are, of course, going to be very happy.

21.

... course he couldn't drink, but why not ... BB p.154, A Vision For You

Of course he couldn't drink, but why not sit hopefully at a table, a bottle of ginger ale before him?

22.

... course he would have dinner, and then ... BB p.9, Bill's Story

Of course he would have dinner, and then I could drink openly with him.

23.

... course I can't take the job. 12&12 p.158, Tradition Six

"Of course I can't take the job.

24.

... course, I knew the law was not ... BB p.2, Bill's Story

By the time I had completed the course, I knew the law was not for me.

25.

... course I would! BB p.12, Bill's Story

Of course I would!

26.

... course, immense. 12&12 p.98, Step Eleven

The actual experience of meditation and prayer across the centuries is, of course, immense.

27.

... course, in all times and places have ... 12&12 p.88, Step Ten

More experienced people, of course, in all times and places have practiced unsparing self-survey and criticism.

28.

... course, is the end result of purposeful ... 12&12 p.79, Step Eight

This attitude, of course, is the end result of purposeful forgetting.

29.

... course, is the process by which instinct ... 12&12 p.36, Step Three

This, of course, is the process by which instinct and logic always seek to bolster egotism, and so frustrate spiritual development.

30.

... course, it is reasonable and understandable that ... 12&12 p.103, Step Eleven

Of course, it is reasonable and understandable that the question is often asked: "Why can't we take a specific and troubling dilemma straight to God, and in prayer secure from Him sure and definite answers to our requests?"

31.

... course it was. BB p.52, We Agnostics

Of course it was.

32.

... course, may conclude that they are indeed ... 12&12 p.67, Step Six

Some people, of course, may conclude that they are indeed ready to have all such defects taken from them.

33.

... course, mean just as much to uncounted ... BB p.561(563), Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition

A.A. can, of course, mean just as much to uncounted alcoholics not yet reached.

34.

... course, mean little. BB xxvi(xxiv), The Doctor's Opinion

As laymen, our opinion as to its soundness may, of course, mean little.

35.

... course, most human beings don't suffer these ... 12&12 p.66, Step Six

Of course, most human beings don't suffer these defects at these rock-bottom levels.

36.

... course, my answer was 'My own sobriety ... 12&12 p.152, Tradition Five

"Of course, my answer was 'My own sobriety and a mighty happy life.'

37.

... course of action. BB p.142, To Employers

After satisfying yourself that your man wants to recover and that he will go to any extreme to do so, you may suggest a definite course of action.

38.

... course of action they carried out. BB p.157, A Vision For You

The two friends spoke of their spiritual experience and told him about the course of action they carried out.

39.

... course of admitting the things we have ... 12&12 p.81, Step Eight

We shall want to hold ourselves to the course of admitting the things we have done, meanwhile forgiving the wrongs done us, real or fancied.

40.

... course of his third treatment he acquired ... BB xxv(xxiii), The Doctor's Opinion

In the course of his third treatment he acquired certain ideas concerning a possible means of recovery.

41.

... course of our existence? BB p.54, We Agnostics

Did not these feelings, after all, determine the course of our existence?

42.

... course of revisions made for the second, ... 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.

43.

... course of vigorous action, the first step ... BB p.63, How It Works

Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted.

44.

... course or be hopelessly lost. 12&12 p.147, Tradition Four

The A.A. group would have to stick to its course or be hopelessly lost.

45.

... course our friend was wrong -- dead wrong. BB p.135, The Family Afterward

Of course our friend was wrong -- dead wrong.

46.

... course, people turned away from us, bored ... 12&12 p.92, Step Ten

Of course, people turned away from us, bored or hurt.

47.

... course, ponder and weigh each instance carefully. 12&12 p.81, Step Eight

We should, of course, ponder and weigh each instance carefully.

48.

... course, quite optional so long as we ... BB p.63, How It Works

The wording was, of course, quite optional so long as we expressed the idea, voicing it without reservation.

49.

... course she did not, and the whole ... BB p.79, Into Action

Of course she did not, and the whole situation has long since been adjusted.

50.

... course, so I packed my grip and ... BB p.173, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

This went from bad to worse until sophomore spring when, after a prolonged period of drinking, I made up my mind that I could not complete my course, so I packed my grip and went South to spend a month on a large farm owned by a friend of mine.

51.

... course, soon on the carpet and the ... BB p.174, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

I was, of course, soon on the carpet and the upshot was that I had to go back for two more quarters and remain absolutely dry, if I wished to graduate.

52.

... course that isn't so, and such people ... BB p.141, To Employers

Of course that isn't so, and such people often may impose on you.

53.

... course, that the reader desires to stop. BB p.34, More About Alcoholism

We are assuming, of course, that the reader desires to stop.

54.

... course, that we are going to talk ... BB p.45, We Agnostics

And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about God.

55.

... course, that we had been given the ... 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.

56.

... course, that we had substituted negative for ... 12&12 p.30, Step Two

This all meant, of course, that we had substituted negative for positive thinking.

57.

... course, that we were still far off ... 12&12 p.121, Step Twelve

This all meant, of course, that we were still far off balance.

58.

... course, that your changed attitude plus the ... BB p.144, To Employers

You are betting, of course, that your changed attitude plus the contents of this book will turn the trick.

59.

... course the depressive and the power-driver are ... 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.

60.

... course, the familiar alcoholic obsession that few ... BB p.155, A Vision For You

He had, of course, the familiar alcoholic obsession that few knew of his drinking.

61.

... course, the family may look at their ... BB p.128, The Family Afterward

As soon as his sobriety begins to be taken as a matter of course, the family may look at their strange new dad with apprehension, then with irritation.

62.

... course, the often disputed question of whether ... 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.

63.

... course, the psychopaths who are emotionally unstable. BB xxx(xxviii), The Doctor's Opinion

There are, of course, the psychopaths who are emotionally unstable.

64.

... course, the result was very bad, and ... BB p.178, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

Of course, the result was very bad, and that ended the beer experiment.

65.

... course the sponsor points out that our ... 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.

66.

... course, there couldn't be the slightest objection ... 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.

67.

... course, there is no pat answer which ... 12&12 p.87, Step Nine

Of course, there is no pat answer which can fit all such dilemmas.

68.

... course, there is such a thing as ... BB p.108, To Wives

Of course, there is such a thing as incompatibility, but in nearly every instance the alcoholic only seems to be unloving and inconsiderate; it is usually because he is warped and sickened that he says and does these appalling things.

69.

... course, there was a promoter in the ... 12&12 p.148, Tradition Four

Of course, there was a promoter in the deal -- a super-promoter.

70.

... course, they are willing to have a ... BB p.146, To Employers

After your man has gone along without drinking for a few months, you may be able to make use of his services with other employees who are giving you the alcoholic run-around -- provided, of course, they are willing to have a third party in the picture.

71.

... course, they would use the resources of ... 12&12 p.157, Tradition Six

Of course, they would use the resources of radio, press, and films to make their point.

72.

... course, this chapter refers to alcoholics, sick ... BB p.149, To Employers

Of course, this chapter refers to alcoholics, sick people, deranged men.

73.

... course, this isn't so at all. 12&12 p.177, Tradition Ten

Of course, this isn't so at all.

74.

... course, this won't do. 12&12 p.69, Step Six

Of course, this won't do.

75.

... course, to our various and sundry ideas ... 12&12 p.68, Step Six

Therefore, it seems plain that few of us can quickly or easily become ready to aim at spiritual and moral perfection; we want to settle for only as much perfection as will get us by in life, according, of course, to our various and sundry ideas of what will get us by.

76.

... course to take. BB p.81, Into Action

Though there may be justifiable exceptions, and though we wish to lay down no rule of any sort, we have often found this the best course to take.

77.

... course to take. BB p.86, Into Action

We may not be able to determine which course to take.

78.

... course, very ancient. 12&12 p.56, Step Five

This practice of admitting one's defects to another person is, of course, very ancient.

79.

... course, we all fall much below this ... BB p.99, Working With Others

Of course, we all fall much below this standard many times.

80.

... course we couldn't. BB p.54, We Agnostics

Of course we couldn't.

81.

... course we did. BB p.54, We Agnostics

But we believed in life -- of course we did.

82.

... course we finally did experiment, and when ... 12&12 p.97, Step Eleven

Of course we finally did experiment, and when unexpected results followed, we felt different; in fact we knew different; and so we were sold on meditation and prayer.

83.

... course, we have lost all perspective, and ... 12&12 p.45, Step Four

Here, of course, we have lost all perspective, and therefore all genuine humility.

84.

... course: We realized that the people who ... BB p.66, How It Works

This was our course: We realized that the people who wronged us were perhaps spiritually sick.

85.

... course, we sometimes encounter people who do ... BB p.74, Into Action

Of course, we sometimes encounter people who do not understand alcoholics.

86.

... course, we were glad that good home ... 12&12 p.28, Step Two

Of course, we were glad that good home and religious training had given us certain values.

87.

... course which had inspired such awe in ... BB p.4, Bill's Story

It was fun to carom around the exclusive course which had inspired such awe in me as a lad.

88.

... course, will want to go to the ... BB p.74, Into Action

Those of us belonging to a religious denomination which requires confession must, and of course, will want to go to the properly appointed authority whose duty it is to receive it.

89.

... course, you are at perfect liberty to ... 12&12 p.173, Tradition Nine

They even had to coin a couple of sentences which still go into half the letters they write: "Of course, you are at perfect liberty to handle this matter any way you please.

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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