According to the blog This Day in Quotes, the origin of this quote is attributed to the 1927 novel The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, by B. Traven. A movie adaptation of the book in 1948 cemented the popularity of the quote when uttered by the bandit known as “Gold Hat” in an exchange with Fred Dobbs, played by Humphrey Bogart.
Dobbs: “If you are the police, where are your badges?”
Gold Hat: “Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!”
As pointed out by This Day in Quotes, the “no badges” line was the source of many parodies – and the most popular actually first originated in a 1967 episode of The Monkees. In it, Mickey Dolenz says, “Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges!” Perhaps the most widely known is the famous scene from Blazing Saddles, Mel Brooks’ western parody. Rick Garcia, as one of Hedley Lamarr’s henchmen, repeated the Dolenz line verbatim.
While it is accurate to say that bandits portrayed in novels, on television or the big screen have no use for badges – we know they have much value in helping to engage employees in your recognition program.
IncenTrac™ – QIC’s online program management platform – features many modules designed to improve engagement. One such module is U-Recognize™, which makes it easy for participants to directly acknowledge the contributions and positive actions of others without the need for approval – regardless of their position in the organization. Program participants award badges to coworkers, supervisors and subordinates for great ideas, excellent performance, teamwork and more.
Awarded badges are displayed on the program landing page and recipients are notified via personalized email when they have been acknowledged. Themed badges or point badges – it’s your choice. Point badges are regulated by pre-approved point issuance guidelines in accordance with your program requirements.
Want to see improved engagement in your recognition program? Maybe you do need some stinking badges! Contact us here or at 800.621.9745 to find out more.
