“There is the obsession that somehow, someday, they will beat the game.” (Chapter 2, Big Book)
“The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.” (Chapter 3, Big Book)
“There was an insistent yearning to enjoy life as we once did and a heartbreaking obsession that some new miracle of control would enable us to do it. There was always one more attempt—and one more failure.” (Chapter 11, Big Book)
The obsession, the illusion: I can drink enough to ‘do the job’ without drinking so much I experience or bank up unacceptable consequences.
The truth: I never have enough, so I’ll always drink so much I experience or bank up unacceptable consequences.