Whenever a human being becomes a battleground for the instincts, there can be no peace. Unreasonable fear that our instincts will not be satisfied drives us to covet the possessions of others, to lust for sex and power, to become angry when our instinctive demands are threatened, to be envious when the ambitions of others seem to be realized while ours are not. Defying their instinctive desire for self-preservation, they seem bent upon self-destruction.

Basic problem of extremes in instinctive drives.

It is nowhere evident, at least in this life, that our Creator expects us fully to eliminate our instinctual drives.

Seldom did we look at character-building as something desirable in itself, something we would like to strive for whether our instinctual needs were met or not.

Nearly every serious emotional problem can be seen as a case of misdirected instinct.

Every natural instinct cries out against the idea of personal powerlessness.

Alcoholics especially should be able to see that instinct run wild in themselves is the underlying cause of their destructive drinking.

Pride lures us into making demands upon ourselves or upon others which cannot be met without perverting or misusing our God-given instincts.

How instincts can exceed their proper function.

This collision of instincts can produce anything from a cold snub to a blazing revolution.

We have learned that the satisfaction of instincts cannot be the sole end and aim of our lives.

If we place instincts first, we have got the cart before the horse; we shall be pulled backward into disillusionment.

To define the word "harm" in a practical way, we might call it the result of instincts in collision, which cause physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual damage to people.

Instincts on rampage balk at investigation.

Every time a person imposes his instincts unreasonably upon others, unhappiness follows.

Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)