Tradition 11 · November 2

I Don't Want to Capitalize on Humility

Daily Traditions · November 2

Before the Tradition

On 2 February 1954 Bill W. wrote to the Secretary of Yale University and turned down an honorary Doctor of Laws. He did not pretend it was cheap (Pass It On): "Were I to accept, the near term benefit to Alcoholics Anonymous and to legions who still suffer our malady would, no doubt, be worldwide and considerable." Yale had already solved the obvious problem for him — the citation would name him only as W. W. "True, the splendid citation you propose, which describes me as 'W. W.,' does protect my anonymity for the time being." He refused anyway, because a courtesy is not a record. "So, while I might accept the degree within the letter of A.A.'s Tradition as of today, I would surely be setting the stage for a violation of its spirit tomorrow. This would be, I am certain, a perilous precedent to set." He offered them an alternative: give the citation to A.A. itself, and "In such an event, I will gladly appear at any time to receive it on behalf of our Society." Then he asked the few who knew to say nothing about any of it — "I don't want to capitalize on humility."

Sit with

He refused an honour that would have helped A.A., and then made sure nobody heard he had refused it. What good thing have I done that I quietly arranged for the right people to find out about?

Grounded in: Pass It On (the Yale letter, February 2, 1954).

Tradition 11

"Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films."

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 11 → Get the app →

← November 1The Credit Tradition 11All of November November 3 →Whether or Not the Name Is Given

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).