"means" in the Big Book

Few people really are, for that means blind faith in the strange proposition that this universe originated in a cipher and aimlessly rushes nowhere.

This is by no means a comprehensive picture of the true alcoholic, as our behavior patterns vary.

If hundreds of experiences have shown him that one drink means another debacle with all its attendant suffering and humiliation, why is it he takes that one drink?

If what we have learned and felt and seen means anything at all, it means that all of us, whatever our race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and honest enough to try.

Every means of solving his problem which

He tries every known means to get the jaywalking idea out of his head.

My old manner of life was by no means a bad one, but I would not exchange its best moments for the worst I have now.

To one who feels he is an atheist or agnostic such an experience seems impossible, but to continue as he is means disaster, especially if he is an alcoholic of the hopeless variety.

That means we have written a book which we believe to be spiritual as well as moral.

And it means, of course, that we are going to talk about God.

Were our contentions true, it would follow that life originated out of nothing, means nothing, and proceeds nowhere.

Show any longshoreman a Sunday supplement describing a proposal to explore the moon by means of a rocket and he will say, “I bet they do it—maybe not so long either.’’ Is not our age characterized by the ease with which we discard old ideas for new, by the complete readiness with which we throw away the theory or gadget which does not work for something new which does?

The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage.

He thus used his own wrong-doing as a means of destroying the reputation of another.

If he opened that old affair, he was afraid it would destroy the reputation of his partner, disgrace his family and take away his means of livelihood.

But we must go further and that means more action.

This means a new attitude and spirit all around.

If you are with a person who wants to eat in a bar, by all means go along.

He has begun to try, with or without your cooperation, various means of moderating or staying dry.

He has by no means ruined everything.

If he is already committed to an institution, but can convince you and your doctor that he means business, give him a chance to try our method, unless the doctor thinks his mental condition too abnormal or dangerous.

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.

Successful readjustment means the opposite.

If he means to right his past wrongs, why all this concern for everyone in the world but his family?

This means trouble, unless the family watches for these tendencies in each other and comes to a friendly agreement about them.

By no means do we offer it as the last word on this subject, but so far as we are concerned, it has worked with us.

If he is, and is still trying to recover, he will tell you about it even if it means the loss of his job.

Alco_9781893007161_6p_01_r6.qxd 8/13/07 10:55 AM Page 151 F or most normal folks, drinking means conviviality, companionship and colorful imagination.

It means release from care, boredom and worry.

Then you will know what it means to give of yourself that others may survive and rediscover life.

As we shall see, he now means a great deal to his community, and the major liabilities of thirty years of hard drinking have been repaired in four.

No one is too discredited or has sunk too low to be welcomed cordially—if he means business.