Enemy
Our efforts to consciously control the unfolding of good does not produce
good so much as it brings forth a slightly less tainted brand of human willfulness.
— A Return to Love
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What usually happens? The show doesn’t come off very well. He begins to think
life doesn’t treat him right. He decides to exert himself more. He becomes, on the
next occasion, still more demanding or gracious, as the case may be. Still the play
does not suit him. Admitting he may be somewhat at fault, he is sure that other
people are more to blame. He becomes angry, indignant, self-pitying.
— Alcoholics Anonymous, page 61
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And so, Reader, (for it is time to have done with guessing) would I bid you conquer
in your warfare against your four great enemies, the world, the devil, the flesh,
and above all, that obstinate and perverse self-will, unaided by which the other
three would be comparatively powerless.
— Guesses at Truth, by Two Brothers
Consciousness
We are not saints.
— Alcoholics Anonymous, page 60
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Consciousness has levels and awareness can shift quite dramatically,
but it cannot transcend the perceptual realm. At its highest it becomes
aware of the real world, and can be trained to do so increasingly. Yet
the very fact that it has levels and can be trained demonstrates that it
cannot reach knowledge.
— A Course in Miracles
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Whatever you may be sure of, be sure of this: That you are dreadfully
like other people.
— James Pearsall Smith
Gift
Finally, we begin to see that all people, including ourselves, are to
some extent emotionally ill as well as frequently wrong, and then
we approach true tolerance and see what real love for our fellows
actually means. It will become more and more evident as we go
forward that it is pointless to become angry, or to get hurt by
people who, like us, are suffering from the pains of growing up.
— Twelve Steps And Twelve Traditions, page 92
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Speaking comes by nature, silence by understanding.
— German proverb
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Make a gift of your life and lift all mankind by being kind,
considerate, forgiving, and compassionate at all times, in
all places, and under all conditions, with everyone as well
as yourself. This is the greatest gift anyone can give.
— David R. Hawkins
Destiny
Life will take on new meaning.
— Working With Others, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 89
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Death is only one of many ways to lose your life. The dangers of not
doing what you perceive as your destiny are greater than anything else.
— Alvah Simon
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The mesa is an altar that gives vision, power, and spiritual connection
to everything, and you must use it to pray and to heal, or you will not
grow as a shaman. You must use and value your mesa or you will lose
your power and your connections.
— don Martin Pinedo
Blinders
I was soon to be catapulted into what I like to call the fourth dimension
of existence. I was to know happiness, peace, and usefulness, in a way
of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time passes.
— Bill’s Story, Alcoholics Anonymous, page 8
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What I really meant was this: I was catapulted into a spiritual experience,
which gave me the capability of feeling the presence of God, His love,
and His omnipotence. And most of all, His personal availability to me.
— Bill W.
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As long as a man feels that he is the most important thing in the world,
he cannot really appreciate the world around him. He is like a horse
with blinders; all he sees is himself, apart from everything else.
— don Juan Matus
Demands
It must never be forgotten that the purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous
is to sober up alcoholics. There is no religious or spiritual requirement
for membership. No demands are made on anyone. An experience is
offered which members may accept or reject. That is up to them.
— Bill W.
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Share a happy memory. Also share the difficult times that have helped
you become stronger and wiser. When shared, the value of these
experiences multiplies.
— Steve Brunkhorst
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If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor.
— Albert Einstein
Doorway
Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental
defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither
he nor any other human being can provide such a defense.
His defense must come from a Higher Power.
— Alcoholics Anonymous, page 43
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The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met
an open doorway with an open mind.
— E.B. White
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There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is
proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in
everlasting ignorance – that principle is contempt prior to investigation.
— Herbert Spencer
Muck
Could I also suggest that you look at excessive guilt for what it is?
Nothing but a sort of reverse pride. A decent regret for what has
happened is fine. But guilt – no.
— Bill W.
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It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be
reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.
— Mohandas K. Gandhi
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Chronic remorse, as all the moralists are agreed, is a most undesirable
sentiment. If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you
can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time.
On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not
the best way of getting clean.
— Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
progress
We have never known the average, the mediocre.
All or nothing, that’s us.
— Bill W.
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…no step is lost on this path…
and even a little progress is freedom from fear…
— Bhagvad Gita
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The winged part of the flying fish
Is not required in the dish.
— Pablo Armando Fernandez
Invention
They said God made these things possible, and we only smiled. We had
seen spiritual release, but liked to tell ourselves it wasn’t true.
Actually we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man,
woman, and child, is the fundamental idea of God.
— Alcoholics Anonymous, page 55
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If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you.
If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth
will destroy you.
— Gnostic Gospel of Thomas
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If there were no God, it would have been necessary to invent him.
— Voltaire
daily messages from doctor bob 