"want" in the Big Book

Thus was I convinced that God is concerned with us humans when we want Him enough.

So many want to stop but cannot.

We doubt if many of them can do it, because none will really want to stop, and hardly one of them, because of the peculiar mental twist already acquired, will find he can win out.

If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic.

If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it—then you are ready to take certain steps.

We want to stay out of this controversy.

We do not want to be the arbiter of anyone’s sex conduct.

The right answer will come, if we want it.

Those of us belonging to a religious denomination which requires confession must, and of course, will want to go to the properly appointed authority whose duty it is to receive it.

She will want to know who the woman is and where she is.

We know you will not want to miss it.

Perhaps you are not acquainted with any drinkers who want to recover.

If he does not want to stop drinking, don’t waste time trying to persuade him.

If he does not want to see you, never force yourself upon him.

Make it clear that he is not under pressure, that he needn’t see you again if he doesn’t want to.

Perhaps you will want to take the man into your home for a few days.

After they have seen tangible results, the family will perhaps want to go along.

We want the wives of Alcoholics Anonymous to address the wives of men who drink too much.

We want to analyze mistakes we have made.

We want to leave you with the feeling that no situation is too difficult and no unhappiness too great to be overcome.

As we say among ourselves, “He wants to want to stop.”

Let him see that you want to be helpful rather than critical.

Say you do not want to be a wet blanket; that you only want him to take care of his health.

Your husband will sometimes be unreasonable and you will want to criticize.

They want him to make a fuss over them.

If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn’t want it.

Whenever you want to, you control your drinking.

You, as a business man, want to know the necessities before considering the result.

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

But there are many men who want to stop, and with them you can go far.

He wants to quit drinking and you want to help him, even if it be only a matter of good business.

Say that you believe he is a gravely ill person, with this qualification—being perhaps fatally ill, does he want to get well?

You ask, because many alcoholics, being warped and drugged, do not want to quit.

Do you want to stop drinking or not?

If he cannot or does not want to stop, he should be discharged.

The right kind of man, the kind who recovers, will not want this sort of thing.

You will want to know more of how to proceed from that point.