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“The measure of my sobriety isn’t the distance between now and the last drink -- the measure of my sobriety is the distance between now and the next drink.”

“We AAs have had to learn that the kinds of freedom that we must possess cannot possibly be obtained by violence. As a Fellowship, we cannot fight anybody, anywhere or at any time. This has been proved. When we had directly attacked John Barleycorn, we had lost. Booze fighting had never worked. When we quarrel too much with each other, we get drunk.”

“Each night, I think of the Tenth Step and ask myself, ‘Have I, this day, helped more than I’ve harmed? Given more than I’ve taken? Created more than I’ve destroyed?’”

“Nothing could be sadder than to lose touch with ourselves in recovery; to have our connection to our Higher Power blocked by resentment; to be governed by old ideas we are only dimly aware of and that hold us back; or to be reduced by our fears to living sequestered from life. For the sunlight of the spirit to enter, the window must be kept clean so the light can pour through.”

“As of this moment I repose serenely on Cloud 9, being thankful in silent meditation. I know the grim realism of this troubled world will bring me sharply back to earth at any moment, but I pray I may make a safe, happy landing.”

“I know what the temptation of fame and money really is ... I was once a breaker of anonymity myself. I thank God that years ago the voice of experience and the urging of wise friends took me out of that perilous path into which I might have led our entire Society.”

“The slogans are simple things ... these AA tranquilizers do not solve our problems, but they can calm us down, remind us of a better way to proceed, and perhaps even put us in a mood to make better decisions.”

“With the clock ticking like it is, I do not have time for anger, resentment, or self-pity. Time is far too precious.”

“A spiritual awakening is easy: any time any alcoholic anywhere understands any part of the truth, that’s a spiritual awakening.”

“Whenever I need strength I just step outside and look for a celestial body like the sun or a star. This allows me to experience again that wonderful feeling of union with my creator.”

“Forgiveness has healed my soul.”

“As individuals and as a Fellowship, we shall surely suffer if we cast the whole job of planning for tomorrow onto a kind Providence. God has endowed us human beings with considerable capability for foresight and he evidently expects us to use it. Therefore we must needs distinguish between wishful dreaming for a happy tomorrow and today's use of our powers of thoughtful estimate -- estimate of the kind which we trust will bring future progress rather than unforeseen woe.”

“Things today are not all ice cream and cake, but it is a new life ... I know that I am still one drink away from the unknown, but for my Higher Power, my sponsor, and the many people in AA who have faith in me.”

“I am a student of life just trying to learn how the universe works. The most powerful lesson I have learned is that it all happens inside me. My perception of any situation is in my control -- I have a choice about which way my mind will react. I try my best to look for positive solutions.”

“Joy comes from living the way my conscience tells me to live.”