But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and society at large that many of us have suffered the most. The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability to form a true partnership with another human being.
Since defective relations with other human beings have nearly always been the immediate cause of our woes.
We were having trouble with personal relationships . . .
We have not once sought to be one in a family, to be a friend among friends, to be a worker among workers, to be a useful member of society. Always we tried to struggle to the top of the heap, or to hide beneath it. This self-centered behavior blocked a partnership relationship with any one of those about us. Of true brotherhood we had small comprehension.
When the words "twisted" and "defective" are used to describe my interpersonal relationships I know I'm in for a tough time of it. When the phrase "total inability" is used to characterize my skills I realize that The Program isn't going to stress my ability to form fine and really good relationships with other people. Apparently "true" brotherhood or "true" partnerships are incomprehensible to us. And in case we haven't been bludgeoned enough The Book offers up that last paragraph which has a slow, steady, relentless cadence to it; just when you think the abuse is over there's another example, another phrase, another twist of the Truth knife.
It's not them - it's you.
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