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“Habits are like cork or lead -- they tend to keep you up or hold you down.”

“We began to see adversity as a God-given opportunity to develop the kind of courage which is born of humility, rather than bravado. Thus we were enabled to accept ourselves, our circumstances, and our fellows.”

“Alcoholism is relieved of its power when honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness combine within me to change my question from ‘Why?’ to ‘How?’ Then, I can get into the stream of life and out of my own way.”

“There is among us AAs the ever present need for further spiritual growth.”

“It has only been in the past few months that I have become interested in service work in AA. Before that, I was an AA barnacle, glued to my seat, criticizing the speakers and griping about the coffee. Now I’m on the other side of the squawks and bleeps, and I find, to my delight, I like it.”

“The future would ... lack its full use and meaning did it not bring us fresh problems and even acute perils – problems and perils through which we can grow into true greatness of action and spirit.”

“What counts is not that which can be held in the hand but that which can be held in the heart.”

“We can achieve no liberation from the alcohol obsession until we become willing to deal with those character defects which have landed us in that helpless condition ... fear, anger, and pride ... rebellion and self-righteousness ... laziness and irresponsibility ... foolish rationalization and outright dishonesty ... wrong dependencies and destructive power-driving.”

“My job is to achieve enough humility to see myself in others and to accept both myself and others, by identifying. The willingness to make amends will grow from this act of love.”

“In the nick of time, and by God’s grace, each of us has been enabled to develop a growing sense of the meaning and purpose of his own life.”

“Forgiveness entered my life through my heart, not my head.”

“Grace is not a do-it-yourself project.”

“You cannot get ahead until you learn to be here.”

“My willingness to have my defects of character removed was bolstered by the realization that little, if any, spiritual growth was possible as long as I held on to my old ideas and defects.”

“At some point in each today, we recovering alcoholics need to pay ourselves a friendly visit.”