Page 61 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

40 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

we knew about alcoholism. He was interested and
conceded that he had some of the symptoms, but he
was a long way from admitting that he could do
nothing about it himself. He was positive that this
humiliating experience, plus the knowledge he had ac-
quired, would keep him sober the rest of his life. Self-
knowledge would fix it.
We heard no more of Fred for a while. One day we
were told that he was back in the hospital. This time
he was quite shaky. He soon indicated he was anxious
to see us. The story he told is most instructive, for
here was a chap absolutely convinced he had to stop
drinking, who had no excuse for drinking, who exhib-
ited splendid judgment and determination in all his
other concerns, yet was flat on his back nevertheless.
Let him tell you about it: “I was much impressed
with what you fellows said about alcoholism, and I
frankly did not believe it would be possible for me to
drink again. I rather appreciated your ideas about
the subtle insanity which precedes the first drink, but
I was confident it could not happen to me after what I
had learned. I reasoned I was not so far advanced as
most of you fellows, that I had been usually successful
in licking my other personal problems, and that I
would therefore be successful where you men failed.
I felt I had every right to be self-confident, that it
would be only a matter of exercising my will power
and keeping on guard.
“In this frame of mind, I went about my business
and for a time all was well. I had no trouble refusing
drinks, and began to wonder if I had not been making
too hard work of a simple matter. One day I went to
Washington to present some accounting evidence to