--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seeing is believing to most families who…" description: "\"Seeing is believing to most families who have lived with a drinker.\" — Bill W" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/bill-w-20063_alcohol_seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who_888985.png" --- # Seeing is believing to most families who have lived with a… ![“Seeing is believing to most families who have lived with a drinker.” quote by Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/bill-w-20063_alcohol_seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who_888985.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/bill-w-20063_alcohol_seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who_888985.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/bill-w-20063_alcohol_seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who_888985.png) > “Seeing is believing to most families who have lived with a drinker.” [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He notes that families often only believe the reality of alcoholism when they witness its effects directly. **In simple terms:** Families accept alcoholism after seeing its impact. Key Takeaway Seek evidence before forming judgments. Themes addiction family perception Mood concerned hopeful Type educational reflective When to use this quote - family counseling - support groups - education programs Key Concepts denial reality testing Questions to Reflect On - How can families be educated about addiction? - What signs indicate a hidden problem? A Different Perspective Denial can persist despite evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Alcoholics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcoholics/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believing Families](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believing-families-326981/) [Drinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinker/) [Drinkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinkers/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Families Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/families-lived-434107/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Lived Drinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-drinker-1126908/) [Recovering alcoholics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recovering-alcoholics/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Seeing Believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-believing-616219/) [Seeing is believing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-is-believing/) ## Related quotes > [Whether the family goes on a spiritual basis or not, the alcoholic member has to if he would recover. The others must be convinced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-griffith-wilson/whether-the-family-goes-on-a-spiritual-basis-or-not-the-alcoholic/) [William Griffith Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-griffith-wilson/) > [“Seeing is believing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/seeing-is-believing/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [“People hear what we say but they see what we do. And seeing is believing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lucia/people-hear-what-we-say-but-they-see-what-we-do-and-seeing-is/) [Al Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lucia/) > [There are those who say that seeing is believing. I am telling you that believing is seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/there-are-those-who-say-that-seeing-is-believing-i-am-telling-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/seeing-is-believing-but-sometimes-the-most-real-things-in-the-world/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [Knowledge, may it be said, is higher than magic and is more to be sought. It is quite possible to see what is happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stephens/knowledge-may-it-be-said-is-higher-than-magic-and-is-more-to-be/) [James Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stephens/) > [Seeing is never believing: we interpret what we see in the light of what we believe. Faith is confidence in God before you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/seeing-is-never-believing-we-interpret-what-we-see-in-the-light-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Seeing-is-believing is a blind spot in man's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/seeing-is-believing-is-a-blind-spot-in-man-s-vision/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [And one eye-witness weighs More than ten hear-fays. Seeing is believing, All the world o'er.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/and-one-eye-witness-weighs-more-than-ten-hear-fays-seeing-is/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Believing is seeing and seeing is believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/believing-is-seeing-and-seeing-is-believing/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [People say seeing is believing , then people should start opening their eye's and start believing on true happiness in life, and stop seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/people-say-seeing-is-believing-then-people-should-start-opening-their/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [For Conservatives, seeing is believing. For liberals, believing is seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/for-conservatives-seeing-is-believing-for-liberals-believing-is-seeing/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [“Seeing is Believing, Peeing is Relieving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-zeidan/seeing-is-believing-peeing-is-relieving/) [Robert Zeidan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-zeidan/) > [I know that for most people, seeing is believing when it comes to government efficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-p-bush/i-know-that-for-most-people-seeing-is-believing-when-it-comes-to/) [George P. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-p-bush/) > [Believing is seeing. It's much more effective than the old notion that seeing is believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-e-deal/believing-is-seeing-it-s-much-more-effective-than-the-old-notion-that/) [Terrence E. Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-e-deal/) ## More by Bill W > [More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very much the actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/more-than-most-people-the-alcoholic-leads-a-double-life-he-is-very/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [“Nothing can be more demoralizing than a clinging and abject dependance upon another human being. This often amounts to the demand for a degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/nothing-can-be-more-demoralizing-than-a-clinging-and-abject/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [No personal calamity is so crushing that something true and great can't be made of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/no-personal-calamity-is-so-crushing-that-something-true-and-great-can/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [Honesty with ourselves & others gets us sober, but it is tolerance that keeps us that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/honesty-with-ourselves-others-gets-us-sober-but-it-is-tolerance-that/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [The good is the enemy of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/the-good-is-the-enemy-of-the-best/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [It must never be forgotten that the purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous is to sober up alcoholics. There is no religious or spiritual requirement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/it-must-never-be-forgotten-that-the-purpose-of-alcoholics-anonymous/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [Learning how to live in the greatest peace, partnership, and brotherhood with all men and women, of whatever description, is a moving and fascinating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/learning-how-to-live-in-the-greatest-peace-partnership-and/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [We know that permanent sobriety can be attained only by a most revolutionary change in the life and outlook of the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/we-know-that-permanent-sobriety-can-be-attained-only-by-a-most/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [“Step One is about recognizing our brokenness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/step-one-is-about-recognizing-our-brokenness/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [How dark it is before the dawn! In reality that was the beginning of my last debauch. I was soon to be catapulted into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/how-dark-it-is-before-the-dawn-in-reality-that-was-the-beginning-of/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [No matter how unreasonable others may seem, I am responsible for not reacting negatively. Regardless of what is happening around me I will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/no-matter-how-unreasonable-others-may-seem-i-am-responsible-for-not/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [Only the self-deceived will claim perfect freedom from fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/only-the-self-deceived-will-claim-perfect-freedom-from-fear/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [Each day my friend's simple talk in our kitchen multiplies itself in a widening circle of peace on earth and good will to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/each-day-my-friend-s-simple-talk-in-our-kitchen-multiplies-itself-in/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [For the wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until self-searching has become a regular habit, until he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/for-the-wise-have-always-known-that-no-one-can-make-much-of-his-life/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) > [Nowadays my brain no longer races compulsively in either elation, grandiosity, or depression. I have been given a quiet place in bright sunshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/nowadays-my-brain-no-longer-races-compulsively-in-either-elation/) [Bill W](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) [Explore all 31 Bill W quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/) ## More Alcohol quotes > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/) [Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/) > [You can get a new phone or new trainers (sneakers) but you've only got one body so you have to look after it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-beckford/you-can-get-a-new-phone-or-new-trainers-sneakers-but-you-ve-only-got/) [Tyson Beckford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-beckford/) > [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/) [Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/) > [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/) [George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/) > [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [Alcohol is like Photoshop for real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/alcohol-is-like-photoshop-for-real-life/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/) [David Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-norman/) > [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/) [Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/) > [I go to parties sometimes until four, it's hard to leave when you can't find the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-go-to-parties-sometimes-until-four-it-s-hard-to-leave-when-you-can/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [I can't fill the hole with money. I can't fill it with alcohol, or drugs, or sex, so what do I need to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/i-can-t-fill-the-hole-with-money-i-can-t-fill-it-with-alcohol-or/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [I take really good care of myself. I promised myself long ago that I would never miss a hunting season, never poison my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-take-really-good-care-of-myself-i-promised-myself-long-ago-that-i/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) [Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Seeing is believing to most families who have lived with a drinker.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill W" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who-have-lived-with-a-drinker/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alcohol" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who-have-lived-with-a-drinker/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/bill-w-20063_alcohol_seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who_888985.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/bill-w-20063_alcohol_seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who_888985.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea6/bill-w-20063_alcohol_seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who_888985.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Seeing is believing to most families who have lived with a drinker.” — Bill W", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bill W", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-w/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Seeing is believing to most families...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who-have-lived-with-a-drinker/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-w/seeing-is-believing-to-most-families-who-have-lived-with-a-drinker/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```