Tradition 12 · December 12

The Plaque on His Desk

Daily Traditions · December 12

Before the Tradition

Dr. Bob kept a definition of humility on his desk, where he would see it between patients (Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers): "Perpetual quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore; to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised, it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is seeming trouble." A co-founder kept that within arm's reach — which tells you he did not believe he had it. He believed he needed it. Spoken, his version was shorter — he didn't believe, he said, that he had "any right to get cocky about getting sober." At rest when nobody praises me. The whole Tradition fits inside that phrase.

Sit with

He kept the definition on his desk because he expected to keep forgetting it. Am I at rest when nobody praises me?

Grounded in: Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers (the desk plaque).

Tradition 12

"Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities."

Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.

And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.

What the Traditions actually say → The Long Form, p. 563 → Search the Big Book → Every day this month →

Ask Recovery Einstein about Tradition 12 → Get the app →

← December 11The Guests of Honor Tradition 12All of December December 13 →Stepping Out of an Office You Love

Daily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).