PERHAPS 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)

perform

performances

performed

PERHAPS occurs 82 times (Definition from Merriam-Webster Online)

peril

perilous

period

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... perhaps. BB p.68, How It Works

Here we find human opinions running to extremes -- absurd extremes, perhaps.

... perhaps after we have finished reading the ... 12&12 p.83, Step Nine

After coming from our first meeting, or perhaps after we have finished reading the book "Alcoholics Anonymous," we usually want to sit down with some member of the family and readily admit the damage we have done by our drinking.

... perhaps arranging for the coffee and cake ... 12&12 p.110, Step Twelve

We can be the ones who take on the unspectacular but important tasks that make good Twelfth Step work possible, perhaps arranging for the coffee and cake after the meetings, where so many skeptical, suspicious newcomers have found confidence and comfort in the laughter and talk.

Perhaps at this point we got a ... BB p.106, To Wives

Perhaps at this point we got a divorce and took the children home to father and mother.

... perhaps be dead. BB p.82, Into Action

Had this not been so, many of us would have no homes today, would perhaps be dead.

... perhaps blessed) with a great deal of ... BB p.172, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

I seemed to be able to snap back the next morning better than most of my fellow drinkers, who were cursed (or perhaps blessed) with a great deal of morning-after nausea.

... perhaps, but I can stop crying out ... 12&12 p.108, Step Twelve

We said to ourselves, "This I cannot do today, perhaps, but I can stop crying out 'No, never!'"

... perhaps desert us entirely. 12&12 p.115, Step Twelve

This often caused the people we had loved most to push us aside or perhaps desert us entirely.

... perhaps difficult -- especially discussing our defects with ... BB p.72, Into Action

This is perhaps difficult -- especially discussing our defects with another person.

10.

... perhaps engendered the selfishness which played such ... BB p.172, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

Unfortunately for me I was the only child, which perhaps engendered the selfishness which played such an important part in bringing on my alcoholism.

11.

'Perhaps far deeper faith than mine. 12&12 p.153, Tradition Five

'Perhaps far deeper faith than mine.

12.

... perhaps fatally ill, does he want to ... BB p.142, To Employers

Say that you believe he is a gravely ill person, with this qualification -- being perhaps fatally ill, does he want to get well?

13.

... perhaps few can. BB p.104, To Wives

As wives of Alcoholics Anonymous, we would like you to feel that we understand as perhaps few can.

14.

... perhaps forgotten, and some still painfully festering, ... 12&12 p.77, Step Eight

This reopening of emotional wounds, some old, some perhaps forgotten, and some still painfully festering, will at first look like a purposeless and pointless piece of surgery.

15.

... perhaps going out of our way to ... 12&12 p.93, Step Ten

With those we dislike we can begin to practice justice and courtesy, perhaps going out of our way to understand and help them.

16.

... perhaps he came to scoff, he may ... BB xxxii(xxx), The Doctor's Opinion

I earnestly advise every alcoholic to read this book through, and though perhaps he came to scoff, he may remain to pray.

17.

Perhaps he can still tend to business ... BB p.109, To Wives

Perhaps he can still tend to business fairly well.

18.

Perhaps he could handle, say, three drinks ... BB p.154, A Vision For You

Perhaps he could handle, say, three drinks -- no more!

19.

... perhaps he could not do so, in ... BB p.39, More About Alcoholism

It never occurred to him that perhaps he could not do so, in spite of his character and standing.

20.

... perhaps he doesn't think at all. BB p.24, There Is A Solution

Or perhaps he doesn't think at all.

21.

Perhaps he goes to a doctor who ... BB p.22, There Is A Solution

Perhaps he goes to a doctor who gives him morphine or some sedative with which to taper off.

22.

Perhaps he has had delirium tremens. BB p.110, To Wives

Perhaps he has had delirium tremens.

23.

Perhaps he is having a secret and ... BB p.81, Into Action

Perhaps he is having a secret and exciting affair with "the girl who understands."

24.

Perhaps he spends too much money for ... BB p.109, To Wives

Perhaps he spends too much money for liquor.

25.

... perhaps he will be interested enough to ... BB p.113, To Wives

Then perhaps he will be interested enough to continue.

26.

Perhaps he will never have much money ... BB p.123, The Family Afterward

Perhaps he will never have much money again.

27.

Perhaps I can best answer this by ... BB xxxi(xxix), The Doctor's Opinion

Perhaps I can best answer this by relating one of my experiences.

28.

Perhaps I could help some of them. BB p.14, Bill's Story

Perhaps I could help some of them.

29.

Perhaps it is going to be that ... BB p.44, We Agnostics

Perhaps it is going to be that way with you.

30.

... "Perhaps it would be a good idea ... 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.

31.

... perhaps just before going to sleep, many ... 12&12 p.93, Step Ten

When evening comes, perhaps just before going to sleep, many of us draw up a balance sheet for the day.

32.

... perhaps life, as it has a way ... 12&12 p.113, Step Twelve

Then perhaps life, as it has a way of doing, suddenly hands us a great big lump that we can't begin to swallow, let alone digest.

33.

... perhaps, like our own. 12&12 p.61, Step Five

Difficulties, perhaps, like our own.

34.

... perhaps made a friend. BB p.94, Working With Others

If your talk has been sane, quiet and full of human understanding, you have perhaps made a friend.

35.

... perhaps needlessly. BB p.112, To Wives

Tell him you have been worried, though perhaps needlessly.

36.

... perhaps never get up, but if our ... BB p.163, A Vision For You

Some of them may sink and perhaps never get up, but if our experience is a criterion, more than half of those approached will become fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous.

37.

... perhaps not well equipped to apply the ... BB xxvii(xxv), The Doctor's Opinion

What with our ultra-modern standards, our scientific approach to everything, we are perhaps not well equipped to apply the powers of good that lie outside our synthetic knowledge.

38.

... perhaps one might procure a pint if ... BB p.171, Doctor Bob's Nightmare

No beer or liquor was sold in the neighborhood, except at the State liquor agency where perhaps one might procure a pint if he could convince the agent that he really needed it.

39.

Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of ... 12&12 p.105, Step Eleven

Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of belonging that comes to us.

40.

Perhaps our doctor or psychologist will be ... BB p.74, Into Action

Perhaps our doctor or psychologist will be the person.

41.

Perhaps our trouble was not that we ... 12&12 p.100, Step Eleven

Perhaps our trouble was not that we used our imagination.

42.

... perhaps our very first attempt at a ... 12&12 p.101, Step Eleven

This much could be a fragment of what is called meditation, perhaps our very first attempt at a mood, a flier into the realm of spirit, if you like.

43.

... perhaps prejudices. BB p.139, To Employers

Whether you are a hard drinker, a moderate drinker or a teetotaler, you may have some pretty strong opinions, perhaps prejudices.

44.

... perhaps pretty messy ones. BB p.140, To Employers

Your man has probably been trying to conceal a number of scrapes, perhaps pretty messy ones.

45.

... perhaps spiritually sick. BB p.66, How It Works

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

46.

... perhaps that boy we thought God was ... 12&12 p.113, Step Twelve

Maybe there are serious domestic or romantic difficulties, or perhaps that boy we thought God was looking after becomes a military casualty.

47.

Perhaps the best way of treating you ... BB p.153, A Vision For You

Perhaps the best way of treating you to a glimpse of your future will be to describe the growth of the fellowship among us.

48.

Perhaps the fear will always lurk in ... 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.

49.

... perhaps, the least understood by his friends, ... BB xxx(xxviii), The Doctor's Opinion

There is the manic-depressive type, who is, perhaps, the least understood by his friends, and about whom a whole chapter could be written.

50.

Perhaps the real trouble was our almost ... 12&12 p.100, Step Eleven

Perhaps the real trouble was our almost total inability to point imagination toward the right objectives.

51.

Perhaps there are some cases where the ... BB p.82, Into Action

Perhaps there are some cases where the utmost frankness is demanded.

52.

Perhaps there is a better way -- we ... BB p.68, How It Works

Perhaps there is a better way -- we think so.

53.

Perhaps there never will be a full ... BB p.22, There Is A Solution

Perhaps there never will be a full answer to these questions.

54.

Perhaps they created the impression that he ... BB p.122, The Family Afterward

Perhaps they created the impression that he is to be wrapped in cotton wool and placed on a pedestal.

55.

Perhaps they were right. BB p.3, Bill's Story

Perhaps they were right.

56.

Perhaps this is a typical attitude. BB p.149, To Employers

Perhaps this is a typical attitude.

57.

Perhaps this will happen in a succession ... 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.

58.

Perhaps, though, your relation to him is ... 12&12 p.61, Step Five

Perhaps, though, your relation to him is such that you would care to reveal only a part of your story.

59.

... perhaps to the medical fraternity. BB p.34, More About Alcoholism

The experiment of quitting for a period of time will be helpful, but we think we can render an even greater service to alcoholic sufferers and perhaps to the medical fraternity.

60.

... perhaps tragic, blunders in this fashion. 12&12 p.60, Step Five

Surely, then, a novice ought not lay himself open to the chance of making foolish, perhaps tragic, blunders in this fashion.

61.

... perhaps want to go along. BB p.99, Working With Others

After they have seen tangible results, the family will perhaps want to go along.

62.

Perhaps we are mixed up with women ... BB p.80, Into Action

Perhaps we are mixed up with women in a fashion we wouldn't care to have advertised.

63.

... perhaps we don't believe in these things ... 12&12 p.96, Step Eleven

Or perhaps we don't believe in these things at all.

64.

Perhaps we had been leaning too heavily ... BB p.53, We Agnostics

Perhaps we had been leaning too heavily on Reason that last mile and we did not like to lose our support.

65.

Perhaps we have committed a criminal offense ... BB p.78, Into Action

Perhaps we have committed a criminal offense which might land us in jail if it were known to the authorities.

66.

Perhaps we rejected this particular conception because ... BB p.45, We Agnostics

Perhaps we rejected this particular conception because it seemed inadequate.

67.

Perhaps we shall be obliged in some ... 12&12 p.69, Step Six

Perhaps we shall be obliged in some cases still to say, "This I cannot give up yet...," but we should not say to ourselves, "This I will never give up!"

68.

Perhaps we shall need to share with ... 12&12 p.61, Step Five

Perhaps we shall need to share with this person facts about ourselves which no others ought to know.

69.

Perhaps we think of our day's work ... 12&12 p.102, Step Eleven

Perhaps we think of our day's work and the chances it may afford us to be useful and helpful, or of some special problem that it may bring.

70.

Perhaps we try to give them advice ... 12&12 p.111, Step Twelve

Perhaps we try to give them advice about their affairs which we aren't really competent to give or ought not give at all.

71.

... perhaps within a year. BB p.7, Bill's Story

My weary and despairing wife was informed that it would all end with heart failure during delirium tremens, or I would develop a wet brain, perhaps within a year.

72.

Perhaps you are not acquainted with any ... BB p.89, Working With Others

Perhaps you are not acquainted with any drinkers who want to recover.

73.

Perhaps you are not quite in sympathy ... BB p.144, To Employers

Perhaps you are not quite in sympathy with the approach we suggest.

74.

Perhaps you both like parties which would ... BB p.110, To Wives

Perhaps you both like parties which would be dull without liquor.

75.

Perhaps you enjoy drinking with him yourself ... BB p.110, To Wives

Perhaps you enjoy drinking with him yourself when he doesn't go too far.

76.

Perhaps you have a husband who is ... BB p.114, To Wives

Perhaps you have a husband who is at large, but who should be committed.

77.

Perhaps you have such a man in ... BB p.141, To Employers

Perhaps you have such a man in mind.

78.

Perhaps you will want to take the ... BB p.96, Working With Others

Perhaps you will want to take the man into your home for a few days.

79.

Perhaps your husband has been living in ... BB p.108, To Wives

Perhaps your husband has been living in that strange world of alcoholism where everything is distorted and exaggerated.

80.

Perhaps your husband will make a fair ... BB p.120, To Wives

Perhaps your husband will make a fair start on the new basis, but just as things are going beautifully he dismays you by coming home drunk.

81.

Perhaps your story will help him see ... BB p.93, Working With Others

Perhaps your story will help him see where he has failed to practice the very precepts he knows so well.

82.

... "Perhaps you're not an alcoholic after all. 12&12 p.23, Step One

To the doubters we could say, "Perhaps you're not an alcoholic after all.

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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