"better" in the Big Book

He had plenty of money left and thought I had better go to Canada.

As the whisky rose to my head I told myself I would manage better next time, but I might as well get good and drunk then.

Then he had, in effect, been raised from the dead, suddenly taken from the scrap heap to a level of life better than the best he had ever known!

But you had better hang on to it.

Anything is better than the way you were.”

Over any considerable period we get worse, never better.

If a mere code of morals or a better philosophy of life were sufficient to overcome alcoholism, many of us

And then, with a better motive, had we not worshipfully beheld the sunset, the sea, or a flower?

Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.

But it is better to meet God alone than with one who might misunderstand.

Perhaps there is a better way—we think so.

If we are sorry for what we have done, and have the honest desire to let God take us to better things, we believe we will be forgiven and will have learned our lesson.

We thank God from the bottom of our heart that we know Him better.

It may be he has done us more harm than we have done him and, though we may have acquired a better attitude toward him, we are still not too keen about admitting our faults.

After consulting with his wife and partner he came to the conclusion that it was better to take those risks than to stand before his Creator guilty of such ruinous slander.

It is better, however, that one does not needlessly name a person upon whom she can vent jealousy.

Better men

What could we have done better?

The family may object to this, but unless he is in a dangerous physical condition, it is better to risk it.

Approach through a doctor or an institution is a better bet.

When your man is better, the doctor might suggest a visit from you.

You will thus get a better idea of how you ought to proceed.

If his own doctor is willing to tell him that he is alcoholic, so much the better.

When dealing with such a person, you had better use everyday language to describe spiritual principles.

The more hopeless he feels, the better.

Should they accept and practice spiritual principles, there is a much better chance that the head of the family will recover.

If their old relationship is to be resumed it must be on a better basis, since the former did not work.

When we look back, we realize that the things which came to us when we put ourselves in God’s hands were better than anything we could have planned.

But if you are shaky, you had better work with another alcoholic instead!

Some day we hope that Alcoholics Anonymous will help the public to a better realization of the gravity of the alcoholic problem, but we shall be of little use if our attitude is one of bitterness or hostility.

You can see that he really does love you with his better self.

Today most of our men are better husbands and fathers than ever before.

If you are positive he is one of this type you may feel you had better leave.

He admits this is true, but is positive that he will do better.

You think he ought to know the subject better, as everyone should have a clear understanding of the risk he takes if he drinks too much.

In some cases it may be better to let someone outside the family present the book.

Use your energies to promote a better understanding all around.

We have elsewhere remarked how much better life is when lived on a spiritual plane.

A better way of life will emerge when they are overcome.

You will lose the old life to find one much better.

Though it is infinitely better that he have no relapse at all, as has been true with many of our men, it is by no means a bad thing in some cases.

If not, it had better be found out right away.

We find it better, when possible, to stick to our own stories.

He may tell mother, who has been religious all her life, that she doesn’t know what it’s all about, and that she had better get his brand of spirituality while there is yet time.

Father feels he has struck something better than gold.

Nothing will help the man who is off on a spiritual tangent so much as the wife who adopts a sane spiritual program, making a better practical use of it.

We think the business fabric is shot through with a situation which might be helped by better understanding all around.

Even when you understand the malady better, you may feel this feeling rising.

If you are sure your man does not want to stop, he may as well be discharged, the sooner the better.

Your man will fare better if placed in such physical condition that he can think straight and no longer craves liquor.

It is better for him to feel fully responsible.

An alcoholic who has recovered, but holds a relatively unimportant job, can talk to a man with a better position.

So, for one reason or another, they cover these men, hoping matters will take a turn for the better.

Feel better.

Work better.

Having a better time.”