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We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.
We of A.A. obey spiritual principles, at first because we must, then because we ought to, and ultimately because we love the kind of life such obedience brings. Great suffering and great love are A.A.’s disciplinarians; we need no others.
1. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85
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Essence of Growth, p. 115
Let us never fear needed change. Certainly we have to discriminate
between changes for better. But once a need becomes clearly apparent
in an individual, in a group, or in A.A. as a whole, it has long since been
found out that we cannot stand still and look the other way.
The essence of all growth is a willingness to change for the better and
then an unremitting willingness to shoulder whatever responsibility this entails.
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The Only Requirement p. 186
In Tradition Three, A.A. is really saying to every serious drinker,
"You are an A.A. member if you say so. You can declare yourself in; nobody can keep you out. No matter how grave your emotional complications -- even your crimes-- we don't want to keep you out. We just want to be sure that you get the same chance for sobriety that we've had."
We do not wish to deny anyone his chance to recover from alcoholism.
We wish to be just as inclusive as we can, never exclusive.
TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 139
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