SURE 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)

supposition

supreme

supremely

SURE occurs 63 times (Definition from Merriam-Webster Online)

surely

surest

surety

Click

to display the full page from the Big Book

... sure. 12&12 p.162, Tradition Seven

We'd have to have some more full-time help, that was sure.

... sure. BB p.164, A Vision For You

We cannot be sure.

... sure a great deal can be accomplished ... BB p.144, To Employers

Meanwhile, we are sure a great deal can be accomplished by the use of the book alone.

... sure A.A. is the only safe harbor ... 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.

... sure all would be Utopia if the ... BB p.61, How It Works

He is like the retired business man who lolls in the Florida sunshine in the winter complaining of the sad state of the nation; the minister who sighs over the sins of the twentieth century; politicians and reformers who are sure all would be Utopia if the rest of the world would only behave; the outlaw safe cracker who thinks society has wronged him; and the alcoholic who has lost all and is locked up.

... sure and definite answers to our requests?" 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?"

... sure and swift; he sickens and dies. 12&12 p.130, Tradition One

If he deviates too far, the penalty is sure and swift; he sickens and dies.

... sure as possible that no deep-lying emotional ... 12&12 p.119, Step Twelve

They need to be as sure as possible that no deep-lying emotional handicap in either will be likely to rise up under later pressures to cripple them.

Sure, Charlie's idea is good, but it ... 12&12 p.137, Tradition Two

Sure, Charlie's idea is good, but it isn't good enough.

10.

... sure didn't do much for me when ... BB p.158, A Vision For You

Then he added, "He sure didn't do much for me when I was trying to fight this booze racket alone."

11.

... sure God wants us to be happy, ... BB p.133, The Family Afterward

We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free.

12.

... sure he doesn't mean business, there is ... BB p.147, To Employers

If you are sure he doesn't mean business, there is no doubt you should discharge him.

13.

... sure he is doing his utmost, you ... BB p.147, To Employers

If, on the contrary, you are sure he is doing his utmost, you may wish to give him another chance.

14.

... sure he still believes in God, but ... 12&12 p.32, Step Two

He's sure he still believes in God, but suspects that God doesn't believe in him.

15.

... sure he would approve. BB p.125, The Family Afterward

Another principle we observe carefully is that we do not relate intimate experiences of another person unless we are sure he would approve.

16.

... "Sure, I was beaten, absolutely licked. 12&12 p.63, Step Six

He will usually offer his proof in a statement like this: "Sure, I was beaten, absolutely licked.

17.

Sure, I'll head toward perfection, but I'm ... 12&12 p.69, Step Six

Sure, I'll head toward perfection, but I'm certainly not going to hurry any.

18.

... sure, is necessary, but faith alone can ... 12&12 p.34, Step Three

Faith, to be sure, is necessary, but faith alone can avail nothing.

19.

Sure, it's ethical, but what we've got ... 12&12 p.137, Tradition Two

Sure, it's ethical, but what we've got won't run on ethics only; it has to be better.

20.

... sure it would work if I could ... BB p.47, We Agnostics

I'm sure it would work if I could only believe as he believes.

21.

... sure knowledge and humble example that resolve ... 12&12 p.135, Tradition Two

Theirs is the quiet opinion, the sure knowledge and humble example that resolve a crisis.

22.

... sure of his recovery. BB p.99, Working With Others

The man should be sure of his recovery.

23.

... sure of many things which, so far ... BB p.139, To Employers

Drinking occasionally, and understanding your own reactions, it is possible for you to become quite sure of many things which, so far as the alcoholic is concerned, are not always so.

24.

... sure our wife does not know, should ... BB p.81, Into Action

If we are sure our wife does not know, should we tell her?

25.

... sure power and safe guidance from God ... 12&12 p.109, Step Twelve

The persistent use of meditation and prayer, we found, did open the channel so that where there had been a trickle, there now was a river which led to sure power and safe guidance from God as we were increasingly better able to understand Him.

26.

... sure recoveries in all three groups. 12&12 p.17, Foreword

Even then it was hard to find twoscore of sure recoveries in all three groups.

27.

... sure that A.A. could go faster and ... 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.

28.

... sure that an A.A. group could stand ... 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.

29.

... sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is ... 12&12 p.187, Tradition Twelve

We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that Alcoholics Anonymous can ever have.

30.

... sure that no class of people in ... 12&12 p.71, Step Seven

But we are sure that no class of people in the world ever made a worse mess of trying to live by this formula than alcoholics.

31.

... sure that other people are more to ... BB p.61, How It Works

Admitting he may be somewhat at fault, he is sure that other people are more to blame.

32.

... sure that our bodies were sickened as ... BB xxvi(xxiv), The Doctor's Opinion

But we are sure that our bodies were sickened as well.

33.

... sure that our way of living has ... BB xiii, Foreword to First Edition

Display entire Foreword to First Edition

And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all.

34.

... sure that such great numbers of yet ... 12&12 p.18, Foreword

But it was by no means sure that such great numbers of yet erratic people could live and work together with harmony and good effect.

35.

... sure that we are not delaying because ... 12&12 p.87, Step Nine

Above all, we should try to be absolutely sure that we are not delaying because we are afraid.

36.

... sure that we ought to be fairly ... 12&12 p.29, Step Two

We were still sure that we ought to be fairly honest, tolerant, and just, that we ought to be ambitious and hardworking.

37.

... sure that we weren't still self-deceived? 12&12 p.59, Step Five

If all our lives we had more or less fooled ourselves, how could we now be so sure that we weren't still self-deceived?

38.

... sure that you get the same great ... 12&12 p.139, Tradition Three

We just want to be sure that you get the same great chance for sobriety that we've had.

39.

... sure they will come. BB p.153, A Vision For You

Should you wish them above all else, and be willing to make use of our experience, we are sure they will come.

40.

... sure this man is done drinking. BB p.138, To Employers

But I'm sure this man is done drinking.

41.

... sure to be great. BB p.99, Working With Others

If persisted in for a few months, the effect on a man's family is sure to be great.

42.

... sure to be impressed with a sincere ... BB p.77, Into Action

But our man is sure to be impressed with a sincere desire to set right the wrong.

43.

... sure to be, since we are so ... 12&12 p.146, Tradition Four

That was sure to be, since we are so largely a band of ego-driven individualists.

44.

... sure to come to you. BB p.55, We Agnostics

The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you.

45.

... sure to discover one that suits if ... 12&12 p.27, Step Two

If you don't care for the one I've suggested, you'll be sure to discover one that suits if only you look and listen.

46.

... sure to drink. BB p.70, How It Works

If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to drink.

47.

... sure to find new avenues of usefulness ... BB p.132, The Family Afterward

If he does not argue about religion, he will make new friends and is sure to find new avenues of usefulness and pleasure.

48.

... sure to find someone desperate enough to ... BB p.96, Working With Others

You are sure to find someone desperate enough to accept with eagerness what you offer.

49.

... sure to make any wife or child ... BB p.122, The Family Afterward

A doctor said to us, "Years of living with an alcoholic is almost sure to make any wife or child neurotic.

50.

... sure to read Appendix II on "Spiritual ... BB p.47, We Agnostics (Note)

(*) Please be sure to read Appendix II on "Spiritual Experience."

51.

... sure to read the book and he ... BB p.113, To Wives

He may not share your enthusiasm, but he is practically sure to read the book and he may go for the program at once.

52.

... sure to remember that we cannot buy ... 12&12 p.84, Step Nine

While we may be quite willing to reveal the very worst, we must be sure to remember that we cannot buy our own peace of mind at the expense of others.

53.

... sure, we feel it is something that ... 12&12 p.96, Step Eleven

To be sure, we feel it is something that might help us to meet an occasional emergency, but at first many of us are apt to regard it as a somewhat mysterious skill of clergymen, from which we may hope to get a secondhand benefit.

54.

Sure, we said to ourselves, the hen ... 12&12 p.97, Step Eleven

Sure, we said to ourselves, the hen probably did come before the egg.

55.

... sure we were ready; that we could ... BB p.63, How It Works

We thought well before taking this step making sure we were ready; that we could at last abandon ourselves utterly to Him.

56.

... sure we would be imprisoned or lose ... BB p.78, Into Action

We have already admitted this in confidence to another person, but we are sure we would be imprisoned or lose our job if it were known.

57.

... sure why, once a certain point is ... BB p.22, There Is A Solution

We are not sure why, once a certain point is reached, little can be done for him.

58.

... sure, will rise to their feet and ... BB p.153, A Vision For You

Many, we are sure, will rise to their feet and march on.

59.

... sure you are doing the right thing ... BB p.97, Working With Others

Never avoid these responsibilities, but be sure you are doing the right thing if you assume them.

60.

... sure you are not critical during such ... BB p.111, To Wives

Be sure you are not critical during such a discussion.

61.

... sure you are on solid spiritual ground ... BB p.102, Working With Others

But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good.

62.

... sure you use discretion. BB p.96, Working With Others

But be sure you use discretion.

63.

... sure your man does not want to ... BB p.141, To Employers

If you are sure your man does not want to stop, he may as well be discharged, the sooner the better.

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.

Top

"164 and More" Home Page