11th Step

“Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends—this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89~

“Showing others who suffer how we were given help is the very thing which makes life seem so worth while to us now. Cling to the thought that, in God’s hands, the dark past is the greatest possession you have—the key to life and happiness for others. With it you can avert death and misery for them.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 124~

“Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the word “blame” from our speech and thought.” ~TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 47~

“Who wishes to be rigorously honest and tolerant? Who wants to confess his faults to another and make restitution for harm done? Who cares anything about a Higher Power, let alone meditation and prayer? Who wants to sacrifice time and energy in trying to carry A.A.’s message to the next sufferer? 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." ~TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 24~

“. . . A.A. is really saying to every serious drinker, “You are an A.A. member if you say so . . . nobody can keep you out.” ~TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 139~

“A few hours later I took my leave of Dr. Bob. . . . The wonderful, old, broad smile was on his face as he said almost jokingly, “Remember, Bill, let’s not louse this thing up. Let’s keep it simple!” I turned away, unable to say a word. That was the last time I ever saw him.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, p. 214~

“The member talks to the newcomer not in a spirit of power but in a spirit of humility and weakness.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, p. 279~

“As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 87~

“Faith has to work twenty-four hours a day in and through us, or we perish.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 16~

“By going back in our own drinking histories, we could show that years before we realized it we were out of control, that our drinking even then was no mere habit, that it was indeed the beginning of a fatal progression.” ~TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 23~

“With few exceptions our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 567-68~

“We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 83~

“We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85~

“Our very first problem is to accept our present circumstances as they are, ourselves as we are, and the people about us as they are. This is to adopt a realistic humility without which no genuine advance can even begin. Again and again, we shall need to return to that unflattering point of departure. This is an exercise in acceptance that we can profitably practice every day of our lives.” ~AS BILL SEES IT, p. 44~

“Only Step One, where we made the 100 percent admission we were powerless over alcohol, can be practiced with absolute perfection.” ~TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 68~

“The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 24~

“Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59~

“We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength. Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built.” ~TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 21~

“He cannot picture life without alcohol. Some day he will be unable to imagine life either with alcohol or without it. Then he will know loneliness such as few do. He will be at the jumping-off place. He will wish for the end.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 152~

“We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs.” ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 19~

The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves. ~ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 25~

"Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 14~

“As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 46~

"Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider another's conception of God. Our own conception, however inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach and to effect a contact with Him. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 46~

“Hopelessness was written large on the man’s face as he replied, “Oh, but that’s no use. Nothing would fix me. I’m a goner. The last three times, I got drunk on the way home from here. I’m afraid to go out the door. I can’t understand it.” For an hour, the two friends told him about their drinking experiences. Over and over, he would say: “That’s me. That’s me. I drink like that.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 157~

“As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, Page 63~

"Alcoholism is a grievous and often fatal malady of the mind and body. We have found that these awful conditions invariably bring on the third phase of our malady. This is the sickness of the spirit; a sickness for which there must necessarily be a spiritual remedy.” ~Bill W., The Language of the Heart, p. 297~

“But life was not easy for the two friends. Plenty of difficulties presented themselves. Both saw that they must keep spiritually active.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 156~

“Instead of regarding ourselves as intelligent agents, spearheads of God's ever advancing Creation, we agnostics and atheists chose to believe that our human intelligence was the last word, the alpha and the omega, the beginning and end of all. Rather vain of us, wasn't it.?” - ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 49~

“To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alternatives to face.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 44~

“Everyone became resigned to the certainty that I would have to be shut up somewhere, or would stumble along to a miserable end. How dark it is before the dawn!” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 8~

“We think it no concern of ours what religious bodies our members identify themselves with as individuals. This should be an entirely personal affair which each one decides for himself in the light of past associations, or his present choice.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 28~ ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 34~

"Many of us felt that we had plenty of character. There was a tremendous urge to cease forever. Yet we found it impossible. This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 34~

“The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 66~

“This business of resentment is infinitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 66~

“Why, he argued, should he lose the remainder of his business, only to bring still more suffering to his family by foolishly admitting his plight to people from whom he made his livelihood?” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 155~

“He told how he lived in constant worry about those who might find out about his alcoholism. He had, of course, the familiar alcoholic obsession that few knew of his drinking.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 155~

“When our friend related his experience, the man agreed that no amount of will power he might muster could stop his drinking for long. A spiritual experience, he conceded, was absolutely necessary, but the price seemed high upon the basis suggested.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 155~

"The verdict of the ages is that men of faith seldom lack courage. They trust their God. So we never apologize for our belief in Him. Instead, we try to let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 68~

“There is scarcely any form of trouble and misery which has not been overcome among us." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill’s Story, pg. 15~

I have seen men come out of asylums and resume a vital place in the lives of their families and communities. Business and professional men have regained their standing. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill’s Story, pg. 15~

I have seen hundreds of families set their feet in the path that really goes somewhere; have seen the most impossible domestic situations righted; feuds and bitterness of all sorts wiped out. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill’s Story, pg. 15~

The joy of living we really have, even under pressure and difficulty. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill’s Story, pg. 15~

"We commenced to make many fast friends and a fellowship has grown up among us of which it is a wonderful thing to feel a part of. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill’s Story, pg. 15~

We needed to ask ourselves but one short question. 'Do I now believe, or am I even willing to believe, that there is a Power greater than myself? ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 47~

“We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 75~

“We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 75~

“Our fears fall from us.” ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 75~

"We can be alone at perfect peace and ease." ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 75~

We can look the world in the eye. ~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 75~

"Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted.”