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“I am responsible as a trusted servant to be informed -- my group expects and deserves that. That responsibility requires me to take action, to do some reading, and to find out what the principles say -- not what I think ... The beautiful thing about AA is that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We have directions and guidelines that we can follow; they were hammered out on the anvil of experience by those who have gone before us.”

“My basic flaw had always been dependence -- almost absolute dependence -- on people or circumstances to supply me with prestige, security, and the like. Failing to get these things according to my perfectionist dreams and specifications, I had fought for them. And when defeat came, so did my depression.”

“The good news is that anyone can become an old-timer if they’re willing to be willing to change and follow some direction.”

“May those who come to know the truth never forget it.”

“Awareness is the most accessible doorway to spirituality.”

“Success is more a state of heart and mind than a sum total of material assets.”

“Finally came April 1939. The book was done. Tales of recovery for its story section had been supplied by Dr. Bob and his Akron brethren. Others were supplied by New Yorkers, New Jerseyites. One came in from Cleveland and another from Maryland. Chapters had been read and discussed at meetings. I had thought myself the author of the text until I discovered I was just the umpire of the differences of opinion. After endless voting on a title for the new work we had decided to call it The Way Out. But inquiry by Fitz M., our Maryland alcoholic, at The Library of Congress disclosed the fact that 12 books already bore that title. Surely we couldn't make our book the 13th. So we named it Alcoholics Anonymous instead! Though we didn't know it, our movement then got its name -- a name which because of the implication of humility and modesty has given us our treasured spiritual principle of anonymity.”

“I cannot afford to take sobriety for granted ... I count my blessings and enjoy them all, large and small.”

“I am not my disease; I just have it.”

“I’ve been told to shake hands and have started doing so, even though it feels awkward ... I know one thing and one thing only: Today I’m sober and loved by members of my home group, even though I might not love myself yet.”

“We are sure there must be a million alcoholics who would join Alcoholics Anonymous tomorrow if only they knew what we do. We keenly realize that any fundamental disunity among us could instantly disillusion tens of thousands who would again turn their faces to the wall. Hence those disruptions common to great wealth, power, or controversy ought never be for us. Too many of the ‘million who don’t yet know’ would surely die.”

“Every day will bring me challenges, but now I have the spiritual tools to cope with life on life’s terms. I am no longer the prisoner of my past, my wants, my sorrows, my addictions.”

“Gratitude is a tool, a form of perspective, reminding me to appreciate the simple things.”

“If we dwell on the past or the future ... we stop changing.”

“Genuine simplicity for today is to be found, I think, in whatever principles, practices, and services can permanently insure our widespread harmony and effectiveness. Therefore it has been better to state our principles than to leave them vague; better to clarify their applications than to leave these unclear; better to organize our services than to leave them to hit-or-miss methods, or to none at all.”