From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
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to display the full page from the Big Book1.
... men.
BB p.16,
Bill's Story
Each day my friend's simple talk in our kitchen multiplies itself in a widening circle of peace on earth and good will to men.
2.
... men.
BB p.22,
There Is A Solution
We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do
for months or years, he reacts much like other men.
3.
... men.
BB p.28,
There Is A Solution
4.
... men.
BB p.31,
More About Alcoholism
Neither does there appear
to be any kind of treatment which will make alcoholics of our kind like other men.
5.
... men.
BB p.32,
More About Alcoholism
Then he fell victim to a belief which practically
every alcoholic has --
that his long period of sobriety and self-discipline had qualified him to drink as
other men.
6.
... men.
BB p.46,
We Agnostics
7.
... men.
BB p.104,
To Wives
8.
... men.
BB p.105,
To Wives
9.
... men.
BB p.107,
To Wives
10.
... men.
BB p.136,
To Employers
11.
... men.
BB p.136,
To Employers
12.
... men.
BB p.148,
To Employers
13.
... men.
BB p.149,
To Employers
14.
... men (and
a few women) with quite ...
BB xxiii,
Foreword to Fourth Edition
When the phrase "We are people who normally would
not mix" (page 17 of this book) was written in 1939, it referred to a Fellowship composed largely of men (and a few women) with quite similar social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.
15.
... men and
reputation.
BB p.148,
To Employers
Alcoholism may be causing your organization considerable damage in
its waste of time, men and reputation.
16.
... men and
their families.
BB p.119,
To Wives
You have been starving for his companionship, yet he spends long hours helping other men and their families.
17.
... men and
their families.
BB xxv(xxiii),
The Doctor's Opinion
18.
... men and
we have done so with ...
BB p.105,
To Wives
Our friends have counseled chucking the
men and we have done so with
finality, only to be back
in a little while hoping, always hoping.
19.
... men and
women.
12&12 p.120,
Step Twelve
Free of marital responsibilities, they can participate in enterprises which would be denied to family men and women.
20.
... men and
women.
BB xvii,
Foreword to Second Edition
21.
... men and
women, and to all these ...
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.
22.
... men and
women are strikingly agreed.
BB p.50,
We Agnostics
23.
... men and
women, desperately in need, will ...
BB p.29,
There Is A Solution
Our hope is that many alcoholic men and women, desperately in need, will see these pages, and we believe that it is only by fully disclosing ourselves and our problems that they will be persuaded to say, "Yes, I am one of them too; I must have this thing."
24.
... men and
women didn't exert themselves to ...
12&12 p.42,
Step Four
If men and women didn't exert themselves to be secure in their persons, made no effort to harvest food or construct shelter, there would be no survival.
25.
Men and
women drink essentially because they ...
BB xxviii(xxvi),
The Doctor's Opinion
26.
... men and
women ever had a more ...
BB p.561(563),
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition
Therefore, no society of men and women ever had a more urgent need for continuous effectiveness and permanent unity.
27.
... men and
women, happy in their release, ...
BB p.159,
A Vision For You
Seeing much of each other, scarce an evening passed that someone's home did not shelter a little gathering of men and women, happy in their release, and
constantly thinking
how they might present their discovery to some newcomer.
28.
... men and
women of all religions have ...
12&12 p.99,
Step Eleven
We won't have far to seek; the
great men and women of all religions have
left us a wonderful supply.
29.
... men and
women of the press have ...
12&12 p.181,
Tradition Eleven
On almost every newsfront, the men and women of the press have attached themselves to
us as friends.
30.
... men and
women, of whatever description, is ...
12&12 p.77,
Step Eight
Learning how to live in
the greatest peace, partnership, and brotherhood with all men
and women, of whatever description, is a moving
and fascinating adventure.
31.
... men and
women open with wonder as ...
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.
32.
... men and
women pour so much alcohol ...
12&12 p.64,
Step Six
When men and women pour so much alcohol into themselves
that they destroy their lives, they commit a most unnatural act.
33.
... men and
women spared from alcohol's final ...
12&12 p.31,
Step Two
34.
... men and
women speak love with their ...
12&12 p.67,
Step Six
But how many men and women speak love with their lips, and believe what they say, so that
they can hide lust in a dark corner of their minds?
35.
... men and
women to recovery, there exists ...
BB xi,
Preface
Because this book has become the basic text for our Society and has
helped such large numbers of alcoholic men and women to recovery, there exists strong sentiment against any radical changes being made in it.
36.
... men and
women who are banded together ...
12&12 p.15,
Foreword
Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship
of more than one hundred thousand(*) alcoholic men and women who are banded together to solve their common problems and to help fellow sufferers in recovery
from that age-old, baffling malady, alcoholism.
37.
... men and
women who are constitutionally incapable ...
BB p.58,
How It Works
Those who do not recover
are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.
38.
... men and
women who go power-mad, who ...
12&12 p.43,
Step Four
We have also seen men and women who go power-mad, who devote themselves to attempting to rule their fellows.
39.
... men and
women who have lost the ...
BB p.30,
More About Alcoholism
40.
... men and
women who have recovered from ...
BB xiii,
Foreword to First Edition
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body.
41.
... men and
women who share their experience, ...
Grapevine,
Preamble
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength
and hope with each other that they may solve their
common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
42.
... men and
women who were once just ...
BB p.17,
There Is A Solution
We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, know thousands of men and women who were once just as hopeless as Bill.
43.
... men and
women who would be hopelessly ...
BB p.572(574),
Appendix V, The Religious View on A.A.
This self-insurance has
resulted in the restoration of physical, mental and spiritual health and self-respect to hundreds of men and women who would be hopelessly down and out without its unique but effective therapy."
44.
... men and
women, worldly indeed.
BB p.50,
We Agnostics
45.
... men are
better husbands and fathers than ...
BB p.108,
To Wives
46.
... men are
gathered together in business there ...
BB p.145,
To Employers
Wherever men are gathered together in business there will be rivalries and, arising out of these, a certain amount of office politics.
47.
... men are
suddenly cast to one side, ...
BB p.27,
There Is A Solution
Ideas, emotions, and attitudes which were once
the guiding forces of the
lives of these men are suddenly cast to one side, and a completely new set of conceptions and motives begin to dominate them.
48.
... men are
thoroughly bad-intentioned, that no amount ...
BB p.108,
To Wives
We realize some men are thoroughly bad-intentioned, that no amount of patience will make any difference.
49.
... men are
to become happy, respected, and ...
BB p.153,
A Vision For You
50.
... men as
we did not!
BB p.106,
To Wives
51.
... men as
we have come to know ...
BB xxvii(xxv),
The Doctor's Opinion
The unselfishness of these men as we have come to know them, the entire absence of profit motive, and their community spirit, is indeed inspiring to one who has labored long and wearily in this alcoholic field.
52.
... men, but
for alcoholics these things are ...
BB p.66,
How It Works
53.
... men cannot
or will not get over ...
BB p.114,
To Wives
54.
... men cared
nothing for the society of ...
12&12 p.42,
Step Four
If there were no social instinct, if men cared nothing for the society of one another, there would be no society.
55.
... men come
out of asylums and resume ...
BB p.15,
Bill's Story
I have seen men come out of asylums and resume a vital place in the lives of their families and
communities.
56.
... men drink
their heads off.
BB p.138,
To Employers
I pointed out that I had had
nothing to drink whatever for three years, and this in the face of
difficulties that would have made nine out of ten men drink their heads off.
57.
... men, even
our enemies, for we look ...
BB p.70,
How It Works
We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and
good will toward all men, even our enemies, for we look on them as sick people.
58.
... men everywhere.
BB p.136,
To Employers
59.
... men failed.
BB p.40,
More About Alcoholism
I reasoned I was not so far
advanced as most of you fellows, that I had been usually successful in licking my other personal problems, and
that I would therefore be successful where you men failed.
60.
... men from
the boys."
12&12 p.63,
Step Six
61.
... men's gathering
places of all sorts, often ...
BB p.158,
A Vision For You
He entered a political
campaign, making speeches, frequenting
men's gathering places of all sorts, often staying up all night.
62.
... men get
well whose families have not ...
BB p.100,
Working With Others
63.
... men gradually,
but His impact on me ...
BB p.14,
Bill's Story
64.
... men had
appeared in court, persuading the ...
BB p.9,
Bill's Story
In a matter of fact way he told how two men had appeared in court, persuading the judge to suspend his commitment.
65.
... men had
found something brand new in ...
BB p.159,
A Vision For You
66.
... men had
hit upon a cure, once ...
12&12 p.150,
Tradition Five
But once these men had hit upon a cure, once it became apparent that only
by their united effort
could this be accomplished, then all of them
would feel bound to devote themselves solely to the relief of cancer.
67.
... men had
spectacular and powerful recoveries.
BB p.113,
To Wives
68.
... men had
the nerve to say that ...
12&12 p.123,
Step Twelve
These distinguished men had the nerve to say that most of the alcoholics under investigation were still childish, emotionally sensitive, and grandiose.
69.
... men have
been so impaired by alcohol ...
BB p.114,
To Wives
70.
... men have
begotten all sorts of predicaments.
BB p.105,
To Wives
Our loyalty and the desire that our husbands hold up their heads and be like other men have begotten all sorts of predicaments.
71.
Men have
cried out to me in ...
BB xxix(xxvii),
The Doctor's Opinion
72.
... men have
discovered God.
BB p.28,
There Is A Solution
The distinguished American psychologist, William
James, in his book "Varieties of Religious
Experience," indicates a multitude
of ways in which men have discovered God.
73.
... men have
regained their standing.
BB p.15,
Bill's Story
74.
... men have
repeatedly deleted names and pictures ...
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.
75.
... men have
sworn great solemn oaths that ...
BB p.105,
To Wives
76.
... men, hoping
matters will take a turn ...
BB p.147,
To Employers
So, for one reason or another, they cover these
men, hoping matters will take a turn for the better.
77.
... men if
they try our suggestions.
BB p.104,
To Wives
There is every evidence
that women regain their health as readily as men if they try our suggestions.
78.
... men in
charge of the alcoholic problem ...
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.
79.
... men in
the fourth classification would be ...
BB p.113,
To Wives
You would suppose that men
in the fourth classification would be quite hopeless, but that is
not so.
80.
... men in
this city have found themselves, ...
BB p.163,
A Vision For You
When a few men in this city have found themselves, and have discovered the joy of helping others to face life again, there will be no stopping until everyone in that town has had his opportunity to recover
-- if he can and will.
81.
... men in
those days was equal to ...
BB p.51,
We Agnostics
Students of ancient history tell us that the intellect of men in those days was equal to the best of today.
82.
... men" is
the difference between striving for ...
12&12 p.68,
Step Six
So the difference between "the boys and the
men" is the difference
between striving for a
self-determined objective and for the perfect objective which
is of God.
83.
... men, it
is by no means a ...
BB p.120,
To Wives
Though it is infinitely better that he
have no relapse at all, as
has been true with many of our
men, it is by no means a bad thing in some cases.
84.
... men jumping
to death from the towers ...
BB p.4,
Bill's Story
85.
... men later
became cofounders of A.A.
BB p.155,
A Vision For You (Note)
86.
... men lost
to this world because I ...
BB p.137,
To Employers
Here were three exceptional men lost to this world because I did not understand alcoholism
as I do now.
87.
... men may
go without disaster, provided he ...
BB p.26,
There Is A Solution
He can go anywhere on this
earth where other free men may go without disaster, provided he remains willing to maintain a certain simple attitude.
88.
... men may
well have a remedy for ...
BB xxvi(xxiv),
The Doctor's Opinion
89.
... men's minds
were fettered by superstition, tradition, ...
BB p.51,
We Agnostics
In the realm of the material, men's minds were fettered by superstition, tradition, and all sorts of
fixed ideas.
90.
... men, much
like himself, have recovered.
BB p.113,
To Wives
91.
... men, nor
should we try.
12&12 p.157,
Tradition Six
92.
... men of
faith have courage.
BB p.68,
How It Works
93.
... men of
genius conceived their best projects ...
BB p.2,
Bill's Story
We had long talks when I
would still her forebodings by telling
her that men of genius conceived their best projects when drunk; that
the most majestic constructions of philosophic thought
were so derived.
94.
... men of
medicine as well as with ...
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.
95.
... men of
my battery given me a ...
BB p.1,
Bill's Story
I fancied myself a leader, for had not the men of
my battery given me a special token of appreciation?
96.
... men of
religion.
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.
97.
... men of
religion' were still killing one ...
12&12 p.30,
Step Two
How we loved to shout the damaging fact that millions of the 'good men of religion' were still killing one another off in the name of God.
98.
... men of
science have been forcing nature ...
12&12 p.70,
Step Seven
99.
... men of
the house would appear.
BB p.105,
To Wives
100.
... men of
thirty or less, had been ...
BB p.33,
More About Alcoholism
Several of our crowd,
men of thirty or less, had been drinking only
a few years, but they found themselves as helpless as those who had
been drinking twenty years.
101.
... men recover,
and is a power in ...
BB p.158,
A Vision For You
102.
... men set
to work almost frantically upon ...
BB xvii,
Foreword to Second Edition
Hence the two men set to work almost frantically upon alcoholics arriving in
the ward of the Akron City Hospital.
103.
... men shall
be governed, and how the ...
12&12 p.176,
Tradition Ten
We live in the imminent possibility of a fresh holocaust to determine
how men shall be governed, and how the products of nature and toil shall be divided among them.
104.
... men, staff
member of a world-renowned hospital, ...
BB p.43,
More About Alcoholism
One of these men, staff member of a world-renowned hospital, recently made this statement to some
of us: "What you say about the general hopelessness
of the average alcoholic's plight is, in
my opinion, correct.
105.
... men suffer
horribly, but not more than ...
BB p.114,
To Wives
106.
... men than
the altruistic movement now growing ...
BB xxviii(xxvi),
The Doctor's Opinion
We feel, after many years of experience, that we have found nothing which has contributed more to the rehabilitation of these men than the altruistic movement now growing up among them.
107.
... men than
we are using it constantly.
BB p.85,
Into Action
108.
... men that
they have over-indulged.
BB p.134,
The Family Afterward
109.
... men, the
stimulating and electric atmosphere of ...
BB p.160,
A Vision For You
The expression on the faces of the women, that indefinable something
in the eyes of the men, the stimulating and electric atmosphere of
the place, conspired to
let him know that here was haven at last.
110.
... men themselves.
BB p.114,
To Wives
111.
... men --
they can devote themselves to any ...
12&12 p.120,
Step Twelve
In partnership with others -- women and men -- they can devote themselves to any number of ideas, people, and constructive projects.
112.
... men to
make the supreme sacrifice rather ...
BB xxx(xxviii),
The Doctor's Opinion
There are many situations which arise out of the phenomenon of craving which cause men to make the supreme sacrifice rather than continue to fight.
113.
Men under
them are frequently their friends.
BB p.147,
To Employers
114.
... men we
married?
BB p.107,
To Wives
115.
... men, we
were honest with no one ...
BB p.73,
Into Action
116.
... men were
not drinking to escape; they ...
BB xxx(xxviii),
The Doctor's Opinion
These men were not drinking to escape; they
were drinking to overcome a craving beyond their mental control.
117.
... men who
cry for money and shelter ...
BB p.98,
Working With Others
118.
... men who
drink too much.
BB p.104,
To Wives
119.
... men who
felt the same way.
BB p.12,
Bill's Story
120.
... men who
had, for example, worked a ...
BB xxix(xxvii),
The Doctor's Opinion
I have had many men who had,
for example, worked a period of months on some problem or business deal which was to be settled
on a certain date, favorably to them.
121.
Men who
had liquor shipped in from ...
BB p.171,
Doctor Bob's Nightmare
Men who had liquor shipped in from Boston or New York by express were looked upon with great distrust and disfavor by
most of the good townspeople.
122.
... men who
have had experience with the ...
BB xxv(xxiii),
The Doctor's Opinion
Convincing testimony must surely come from medical men who have had experience with the sufferings of our members and have witnessed our return to health.
123.
... men who
have lost their legs; they ...
BB p.30,
More About Alcoholism
124.
... men who
have such experiences.
BB p.14,
Bill's Story
125.
... men who
loved their wives and children ...
BB p.107,
To Wives
126.
... men who
want to stop, and with ...
BB p.141,
To Employers
127.
... men who
would die because they would ...
BB p.154,
A Vision For You
But what about his responsibilities --
his family and the men who
would die because they would
not know how to get well, ah -- yes, those other alcoholics?
128.
... men, whose
stories I have heard, there ...
BB p.43,
More About Alcoholism
As to two of you men, whose stories I have heard, there is no doubt in my mind that you were
100% hopeless, apart from divine help.
129.
... men will
have shaped their own destiny.
12&12 p.71,
Step Seven
130.
... men will
try to take advantage of ...
BB p.141,
To Employers
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.
Copyright © 2005-2012, Recovery Press LLC; All Rights Reserved.