"hours" in the Big Book

It was eight o’clock—five hours after the market closed.

He talked for hours.

Faith has to work twenty-four hours a day in and through us, or we perish.

But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours.

Here are some of the methods we have tried: Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums—we could increase the list ad infinitum.

To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while.

On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead.

You have been starving for his companionship, yet he spends long hours helping other men and their families.

This seemed to me like an opportunity to be helpful, so I spent two hours talking about alcoholism, the malady, and described the symptoms and results as well as I could.

You may have to curb his desire to work sixteen hours a day.

He may wish to do a lot for other alcoholics and something of the sort may come up during business hours.

They shared their homes, their slender resources, and gladly devoted their spare hours to fellow-sufferers.