“Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use,” (Chapter 6, Big Book)
“How frequently we see a frightened human being determined to depend completely upon a stronger person for guidance and protection. This weak one, failing to meet life’s responsibilities with his own resources, never grows up. Disillusionment and helplessness are his lot. In time all his protectors either flee or die, and he is once more left alone and afraid.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions)
“Sapere aude!” (Horace, First Book of Letters) [Translation: “Dare to know!” or “Have the courage to think for yourself!”]
“Enlightenment is man’s way out of self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one’s native sense without another’s guidance. This immaturity is self-imposed if its cause is not lack of native sense but failing to resolve and summon the courage to use one’s native sense without another’s guidance. Sapere aude! Have the courage to use your own native sense! is thus the motto of the Enlightenment.” (Kant, Answer to the question: what is enlightenment?)]
In recovery I have had to learn to think for myself, even though that entails (a) effort and (b) the risk of making mistakes. Otherwise, I remain stuck as a child, dependent on others.