Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition

normal, will do incredible things. Afterward, his
revulsion will be terrible. Nearly always, these antics
indicate nothing more than temporary conditions.

This is not to say that all alcoholics are honest and
upright when not drinking. Of course that isn't so,
and such people often may impose on you. Seeing
your attempt to understand and help, some men will
try to take advantage of your kindness. If you are
sure your man does not want to stop, he may as well
be discharged, the sooner the better. You are not
doing him a favor by keeping him on. Firing such an
individual may prove a blessing to him. It may be
just the jolt he needs. I know, in my own particular
case, that nothing my company could have done would
have stopped me for, so long as I was able to hold my
position, I could not possibly realize how serious my
situation was. Had they fired me first, and had they
then taken steps to see that I was presented with the
solution contained in this book, I might have returned
to them six months later, a well man.

But there are many men who want to stop, and with
them you can go far. Your understanding treatment
of their cases will pay dividends.

Perhaps you have such a man in mind. He wants to
quit drinking and you want to help him, even if it be
only a matter of good business. You now know more
about alcoholism. You can see that he is mentally and
physically sick. You are willing to overlook his past
performances. Suppose an approach is made some­-
thing like this:

State that you know about his drinking, and that it
must stop. You might say you appreciate his abilities,
would like to keep him, but cannot if he continues to