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From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
Click the page number or the book cover icon
to view that page in the literature.1.
2.
As A.A. emerged from its infancy into adolescence, we swung from
the idea that we needed vast sums of money to the notion that A.A. shouldn't have any.
3.
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.
4.
But when we had declared that our Fellowship couldn't hire service workers nor could any A.A. member carry our knowledge into other fields, we were taking the counsel of fear, fear which today has been largely dispelled in the light of experience.
5.
Why did we dare to say, contrary to the experience of society and
government everywhere, that we would neither punish nor deprive any A.A. of membership, that we must never compel anyone to pay anything, believe anything, or conform to anything?
6.
And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board.
7.
And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board.
8.
We are equally positive
that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop.
9.
10.
Surveying his business
or employment record, almost any alcoholic can ask questions like these: In addition to my drinking problem, what character defects contributed to my
financial instability?
11.
Most emphatically we wish to say that any alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the light of our experience can
recover, provided he does
not close his mind to all spiritual concepts.
12.
13.
At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance was sometimes to pronounce his death sentence, and often to condemn him to endless misery.
14.
15.
So the hand of Providence
early gave us a sign that any alcoholic is a member of our
Society when he says so.
16.
17.
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.
18.
19.
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.
20.
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.
21.
22.
It should be remembered that this kind of insecurity may arise in any area where instincts are threatened.
23.
Unless they actually need protection from their father, it is best not to take sides in any argument he has with them while drinking.
24.
We shall claim that our serious character defects, if we think we have
any at all, have been caused
chiefly by excessive drinking.
25.
Hardly an alcoholic we approached paid any attention; most of those who did join us were like flickering candles in a windstorm.
26.
27.
A tumbler full of gin followed by half a dozen bottles of beer would be required if I were to eat any breakfast.
28.
29.
These were the new attitudes
that finally brought many of us an inner strength and peace that could
not be deeply shaken by the
shortcomings of others
or by any calamity not of
our own making.
30.
But point out that we alcoholics have much in common and that you would like,
in any case, to be friendly.
31.
Well, we surely have a chance if we switch from "two-stepping" to "twelve-stepping," if we are
willing to receive that grace of God which can sustain and strengthen us
in any catastrophe.
32.
33.
A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics,
organization or institution; does not wish
to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
34.
However, because the book has
helped so many alcoholics find recovery, there exists strong sentiment within the Fellowship against any change to it.
35.
He had lived there but a few weeks when he found that the place probably contained more alcoholics per square mile than any city in the country.
36.
37.
38.
We think, therefore, that
any considerable property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material from
the spiritual.
39.
We think, therefore, that
any considerable property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material from
the spiritual.
40.
A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics,
organization or institution; does not wish
to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
41.
42.
In no deep or meaningful sense had we ever taken stock of ourselves, made amends to those we had harmed, or freely given to any other human being without any demand for reward.
43.
We realize some men are thoroughly bad-intentioned, that no amount of patience will make any difference.
44.
While the comment or advice of others may be by no means infallible, it is likely to
be far more specific than any direct guidance we may receive while we are still so inexperienced in
establishing contact
with a Power greater than ourselves.
45.
46.
He is not likely to get far in any direction if he fails to show unselfishness and love under his own roof.
47.
In the radiance of such a miraculous discovery,
any doctor would set his other ambitions aside, at whatever personal cost.
48.
49.
When told that our Society
has no president having authority to govern it, no treasurer who can compel the payment of any dues, no board of directors who can cast an erring member into outer darkness, when indeed no A.A. can give
another a directive and
enforce obedience, our
friends gasp and exclaim, "This simply can't
be. There must be an angle somewhere."
50.
His alcoholic problem
was so complex, and his depression so great, that we
felt his only hope would be through what we then called
"moral psychology," and
we doubted if even that would
have any effect.
51.
Without it, they cannot live
to much useful purpose, or, in adversity,
be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency.
52.
The A.A. groups, many thought, could go into business, might finance any enterprise whatever in
the total field of alcoholism.
53.
The roadblocks of indifference, fancied self-sufficiency, prejudice, and defiance often prove more solid and formidable for these people
than any erected by the unconvinced agnostic or
even the militant atheist.
54.
55.
56.
If you propose such a procedure to him, it may be necessary to advance the cost of treatment, but we believe it should be made plain that any expense will later be deducted from his pay.
57.
Almost any experienced A.A. will tell how his affairs have taken remarkable and unexpected turns for the better as he tried to improve his conscious contact with God.
58.
Then let his family or a friend ask him if he wants to quit for good and if he would go to any extreme to do so.
59.
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.
60.
Sometimes A.A. comes harder to those who have lost or rejected faith than to those who never had any faith at all, for they think they have tried faith and found it wanting.
61.
If any feel that as psychiatrists directing a hospital for
alcoholics we appear somewhat sentimental, let them stand with us a while on the firing line, see the tragedies, the despairing wives, the little children; let the solving of these problems become a part of their daily work, and even of their sleeping moments, and the
most cynical will not wonder that we have accepted
and encouraged this movement.
62.
As by some deep instinct, we
A.A.'s have known from the very beginning that we must never, no matter what the provocation, publicly take sides in any fight, even a worthy one.
63.
And these were fears which would make a serene and useful existence, at any financial level, quite impossible.
64.
These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all; and once having formed the habit and found they cannot break it, once having lost their self-confidence, their reliance upon things human, their problems pile up on them and become astonishingly difficult to solve.
65.
66.
We well remember how something deep inside us kept rebelling against the idea of bowing before any God.
67.
68.
We would not even do the cause
of temperate drinking
any good, for not one drinker in a thousand likes to be told anything about alcohol by one who hates it.
69.
70.
When it will serve any good purpose, we are willing to announce our convictions
with tact and common sense.
71.
Therefore, ask yourself on each occasion, "Have I any good social, business, or personal reason for going to this place?
72.
73.
So far as we know, it is nowhere on the record that God has completely removed from any human being all his natural drives.
74.
Few indeed are the practicing alcoholics
who have any idea how irrational they are, or seeing their irrationality, can bear to
face it.
75.
If there is any indication
that he wants to stop, have a
good talk with the person most interested in
him -- usually his wife.
76.
77.
If we are planning to stop
drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor
any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol.
78.
Neither does there appear
to be any kind of treatment which will make alcoholics of our kind like other men.
79.
The very practical approach to his problems,
the absence of intolerance of any kind, the informality, the
genuine democracy, the
uncanny understanding which these people had were irresistible.
80.
At that time I was not aware of
the almost unlimited supply the government made it possible for us doctors to obtain, neither had I any knowledge of the bootlegger who soon appeared on the horizon.
81.
If you have decided you want
what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it -- then you are
ready to take certain steps.
82.
83.
Reminding ourselves
that we have decided to go to
any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be
given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be.
84.
The first requirement is
that we be convinced that any life run on
self-will can hardly be a success.
85.
Show any longshoreman a Sunday supplement describing a
proposal to explore the
moon by means of a rocket and he will say, "I bet they do it -- maybe not so long either."
86.
If we are planning to stop
drinking, there must be no reservation of any kind, nor
any lurking notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol.
87.
The A.A., or indeed any man, who tries to run his life rigidly by this kind of prayer, by this self-serving demand of God for replies, is a particularly disconcerting individual.
88.
89.
90.
... any meeting,
anywhere, A.A.'s share experience, strength, ...
BB
Foreword to Fourth Edition, p.xxiv
In any meeting, anywhere, A.A.'s share experience, strength, and hope with each other, in order to stay sober and help other alcoholics.
91.
In fact, we felt duty-bound to throw the whole weight of the A.A. name behind any meritorious cause.
92.
Never talk down to an alcoholic from
any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection.
93.
Through it we begin to learn right relations with people who understand us; we don't have to be alone any more.
94.
But we soon discovered
that while we weren't alone any more in a social sense, we still suffered many of the old pangs of anxious apartness.
95.
96.
97.
This thought brings us to
Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to
set right any new mistakes as we go along.
98.
99.
In partnership with others -- women and men -- they can devote themselves to any number of ideas, people, and constructive
projects.
100.
We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is
highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance
of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying
any obligation whatever, is unwise.
101.
We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is
highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance
of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying
any obligation whatever, is unwise.
102.
Whenever we fail any of these people, we can promptly admit it -- to ourselves always, and to
them also, when the admission would be helpful.
103.
104.
We found that as soon as we
were able to lay aside prejudice and express even a willingness to believe in
a Power greater than ourselves, we commenced
to get results, even though it was impossible for any of us to
fully define or comprehend that Power, which
is God.
105.
If you ask him why he started on that last bender, the chances are he will offer you any one of a hundred alibis.
106.
107.
To spend too much time on any one situation is to deny some other alcoholic an opportunity to live and be
happy.
108.
... any opinion
on outside controversial issues -- particularly ...
BB
Appendix I, The A.A. Tradition, p.565
10. No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial
issues -- particularly
those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.
109.
... any opinion
on outside controversial issues -- particularly ...
12&12
Tradition Ten (Long), p.192
Ten -- No A.A.
group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial
issues -- particularly
those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion.
110.
Some of us once had great self-confidence, but it
didn't fully solve the fear problem, or any other.
111.
As generous as Charlie
has been to us, don't you see that we can't tie this thing up with his hospital or any other?
112.
We conceive the survival
and spread of Alcoholics
Anonymous to be something of far greater importance than
the weight we could collectively throw back of any other cause.
113.
If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which
keeps you from accepting
what is in this book, I feel sorry for you.
114.
115.
In no deep or meaningful sense had we ever taken stock of ourselves, made amends to those we had harmed, or freely given to any other human being without any demand for reward.
116.
117.
If that degree of humility
could enable us to find the grace by which such a deadly obsession could be banished, then there must be hope of the same result respecting any other problem we could possibly
have.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
123.
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.
124.
You will be most successful with alcoholics if you do not exhibit any passion for crusade or reform.
125.
This lack of anchorage to
any permanent values, this blindness to
the true purpose of our lives, produced another bad result.
126.
He goes on to explain that
any person capable of enough willingness and honesty
to try repeatedly Step Six on all his faults -- without any reservations whatever -- has indeed come a long way spiritually, and is therefore entitled to be
called a man who is sincerely trying to grow in the image and likeness of his own Creator.
127.
128.
At such moments we forget that alcoholism is
an illness over which we
could not possibly have had any power.
129.
There is no use arousing any prejudice he may have against certain theological terms and conceptions about which he may already be confused.
130.
Do not let any prejudice you may have against spiritual terms deter you from honestly asking yourself what they mean to you.
131.
132.
133.
134.
We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is
highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance
of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying
any obligation whatever, is unwise.
135.
We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is
highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance
of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying
any obligation whatever, is unwise.
136.
Neither its General Service Conference, its Foundation Board,(*) nor the humblest group committee can issue a single directive to an A.A. member and make it stick, let alone mete out any punishment.
137.
138.
To any questioning or criticism of his actions he
instantly proffers his
reliance upon prayer for guidance in all matters great or small.
139.
140.
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.
141.
But all who are in the least reasonable will agree upon one point: that there is plenty wrong with us alcoholics about which plenty will have to be done if we are to expect sobriety, progress, and
any real ability to cope with life.
142.
If we would gain any real advantage in the use of this Step on problems other than alcohol, we shall need to make a brand new venture into open-mindedness.
143.
Very gradually, and usually without any realization of the fact, the wife is forced to become the mother of an erring boy.
144.
145.
These adventures implanted a deep-rooted conviction that in
no circumstances could we
endorse any related enterprise, no matter how good.
146.
Six -- An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
147.
Tradition Six -- "An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our
primary purpose."
148.
"An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our
primary purpose."
149.
He goes on to explain that
any person capable of enough willingness and honesty
to try repeatedly Step Six on all his faults -- without any reservations whatever -- has indeed come a long way spiritually, and is therefore entitled to be
called a man who is sincerely trying to grow in the image and likeness of his own Creator.
150.
In many homes this is a difficult thing to do, but it
must be done if any results are to be expected.
151.
152.
In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes
to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure.
153.
A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics,
organization or institution; does not wish
to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
154.
This is the experience which has led us to the conclusion that
our group conscience, well-advised by its elders, will be in the long run wiser than any single leader.
155.
This very form of faulty dependence has caused many a rebellious alcoholic to
conclude that dependence of any sort must be intolerably damaging.
156.
Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, psychiatrist:
"As a psychiatrist, I have thought a great deal about the relationship
of my specialty to A.A. and I
have come to the conclusion that our particular function can
very often lie in preparing the way for the patient to accept any sort of treatment or outside help.
157.
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.
158.
We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is
highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance
of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying
any obligation whatever, is unwise.
159.
We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is
highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance
of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying
any obligation whatever, is unwise.
160.
The unique ability of each A.A. to identify himself with, and
bring recovery to, the newcomer in no way depends upon his learning, eloquence, or on any special individual skills.
161.
162.
As an insurance against
"big-shot-ism" we can often check ourselves by remembering that we are today sober only by the grace of God and that any success we may be having is far more His success than ours.
163.
Could any then imagine a society which would include
every conceivable kind of character, and cut across every barrier of race, creed, politics, and language with
ease?
164.
Any therapeutic
or philosophic procedure which can ...
BB
Appendix III, The Medical View on A.A., p.569
Any therapeutic or philosophic procedure
which can prove a recovery
rate of 50% to 60% must merit our consideration."
165.
The doctors weren't trying to find how different we were from one another; they sought to find whatever personality traits, if
any, this group of alcoholics had in common.
166.
We will see that our new attitude toward liquor has been given us without any thought or effort on our part.
167.
168.
There's the spot-check inventory, taken at any time of the day, whenever we find ourselves getting tangled up.
169.
I vaguely sensed I was not
being any too smart, but felt reassured as I was taking
the whiskey on a full stomach.
170.
This practice enables us
to lend a hand, at the same time avoiding certain alluring distractions
of the road, about which any traveling man can inform you.(*)
171.
172.
173.
Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.
174.
So confident of this had we become that the original statement of A.A. tradition carried this significant sentence:
"Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that as a group they have no other affiliation."
175.
Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.
176.
So it is by circumstance rather than by any virtue that we have been driven
to A.A., have admitted defeat, have acquired the rudiments of faith, and now want to make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to a Higher Power.
177.
He left us a note saying you were the best boss he ever had, and that you were
not to blame in any way."
178.
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.
179.
A doctor said to us, "Years of living with an alcoholic is almost sure to make any wife or child neurotic.
180.
181.
Any willing newcomer feels sure A.A. is the only safe harbor for the foundering vessel he has become.
182.
Ask any woman who has sent her husband to distant places on the theory he would
escape the alcohol problem.
183.
The doctor proved to be able and exceedingly anxious to adopt any workable method of handling the situation.
184.
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