UNLESS 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)

unkind

unkindest

unknown

UNLESS occurs 36 times (Definition from Merriam-Webster Online)

unlike

unload

unlocked

Click

to display the full page from the Big Book

... unless at once followed by a strenuous ... BB p.64, How It Works

Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us.

Unless each A.A. member follows to the ... 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.

... unless he carries the A.A. message. 12&12 p.130, Tradition One

Neither he nor anybody else can survive unless he carries the A.A. message.

... unless he gives it away. 12&12 p.130, Tradition One

Moreover, he finds he cannot keep this priceless gift unless he gives it away.

... unless he has first accepted his devastating ... 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.

... unless he has his family back. BB p.99, Working With Others

Let no alcoholic say he cannot recover unless he has his family back.

... unless he has seen it and wishes ... BB p.92, Working With Others

Don't, at this stage, refer to this book, unless he has seen it and wishes to discuss it.

... unless he has to do these things ... 12&12 p.24, Step One

No, the average alcoholic, self-centered in the extreme, doesn't care for this prospect -- unless he has to do these things in order to stay alive himself.

... unless he is in a dangerous physical ... BB p.90, Working With Others

The family may object to this, but unless he is in a dangerous physical condition, it is better to risk it.

10.

... unless he is now willing to work ... 12&12 p.50, Step Four

By now the newcomer has probably arrived at the following conclusions: that his character defects, representing instincts gone astray, have been the primary cause of his drinking and his failure at life; that unless he is now willing to work hard at the elimination of the worst of these defects, both sobriety and peace of mind will still elude him; that all the faulty foundation of his life will have to be torn out and built anew on bedrock.

11.

... unless he is ugly and the family ... BB p.90, Working With Others

Don't deal with him when he is very drunk, unless he is ugly and the family needs your help.

12.

... unless he is violent. BB p.91, Working With Others

If your man needs hospitalization, he should have it, but not forcibly unless he is violent.

13.

... unless he passes on to other alcoholics ... 12&12 p.133, Tradition Two

Alone now, he reflects that he may not be able to stay sober, or even alive, unless he passes on to other alcoholics what was so freely given him.

14.

Unless he took some drinks, he might ... BB p.154, A Vision For You

Unless he took some drinks, he might not have the courage to scrape an acquaintance and would have a lonely week-end.

15.

... unless I accept life completely on life's ... BB p.417(449), Acceptance

Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy.

16.

... unless I could assure him, which no ... BB xxxi(xxix), The Doctor's Opinion

Following his physical rehabilitation, he had a talk with me in which he frankly stated he thought the treatment a waste of effort, unless I could assure him, which no one ever had, that in the future he would have the "will power" to resist the impulse to drink.

17.

... unless it will serve some good purpose. BB p.92, Working With Others

Doctors are rightly loath to tell alcoholic patients the whole story unless it will serve some good purpose.

18.

... unless locked up, may die or go ... BB p.24, There Is A Solution

When this sort of thinking is fully established in an individual with alcoholic tendencies, he has probably placed himself beyond human aid, and unless locked up, may die or go permanently insane.

19.

Unless one's family expresses a desire to ... BB p.83, Into Action

Unless one's family expresses a desire to live upon spiritual principles we think we ought not to urge them.

20.

... unless some good and useful purpose is ... BB p.125, The Family Afterward

So we think that unless some good and useful purpose is to be served, past occurrences should not be discussed.

21.

... unless the doctor thinks his mental condition ... BB p.114, To Wives

If he is already committed to an institution, but can convince you and your doctor that he means business, give him a chance to try our method, unless the doctor thinks his mental condition too abnormal or dangerous.

22.

... unless the family watches for these tendencies ... BB p.131, The Family Afterward

This means trouble, unless the family watches for these tendencies in each other and comes to a friendly agreement about them.

23.

Unless the reason is understood, there may ... BB p.134, The Family Afterward

Unless the reason is understood, there may be an emotional upset.

24.

... unless there is a group. 12&12 p.130, Tradition One

The moment this Twelfth Step work forms a group, another discovery is made -- that most individuals cannot recover unless there is a group.

25.

Unless there is approximate conformity to A.A.'s ... 12&12 p.174, Tradition Nine

Unless there is approximate conformity to A.A.'s Twelve Traditions, the group, too, can deteriorate and die.

26.

Unless they actually need protection from their ... BB p.115, To Wives

Unless they actually need protection from their father, it is best not to take sides in any argument he has with them while drinking.

27.

... unless they can again experience the sense ... BB xxviii(xxvi), The Doctor's Opinion

They are restless, irritable and discontented, unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes at once by taking a few drinks -- drinks which they see others taking with impunity.

28.

... unless they develop much more of this ... 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.

29.

... 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.

30.

... unless this person can experience an entire ... BB xxix(xxvii), The Doctor's Opinion

This is repeated over and over, and unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of his recovery.

31.

... unless we accepted many things on faith ... BB p.47, We Agnostics

That was great news to us, for we had assumed we could not make use of spiritual principles unless we accepted many things on faith which seemed difficult to believe.

32.

... unless we are 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.

33.

... unless we clearly see what it is. 12&12 p.58, Step Five

No defect can be corrected unless we clearly see what it is.

34.

... unless we could find a means of ... 12&12 p.76, Step Seven

Therefore, no peace was to be had unless we could find a means of reducing these demands.

35.

... unless we give it away. 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.

36.

Unless your friend wants to talk further ... BB p.95, Working With Others

Unless your friend wants to talk further about himself, do not wear out your welcome.

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