“Awards are merely the badges of mediocrity.”

“In truth, I am nothing but a plodding mediocrity — please observe, a plodding mediocrity — for a mere mediocrity does not go very far, but a plodding one gets quite a distance. There is joy in that success, and a distinction can come from courage, fidelity and industry.”

“We've got it [Percy's Head Boy badge]," Fred whispered to Harry. "We're improving it." The badge now read Bighead Boy.”

“The university awarded me my degree, but can something that’s basically worthless be properly called an award?”

“Work - the ultimate badge of health.”

“The aficionado prefers a crazy bomb to a mediocrity, because the musical as a form has such potential as entertainment that the merely adequate can fatigue the spirit while the disaster can amuse with its drastic misjudgments and desperation gambles.”