“To Yossarian, the idea of pennants as prizes was absurd. No money went with them, no class privileges. Like Olympic medals and tennis trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than everyone else.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22
I was wondering that too. Apparently it’s “The Message”, a contemporary translation by Eugene H. Peterson .
I don’t know if that version is more accurate, and it’s probably easier to understand, but I think “vanity of vanities, all is vanity” has a certain cutting, personal touch.
“To Yossarian, the idea of pennants as prizes was absurd. No money went with them, no class privileges. Like Olympic medals and tennis trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than everyone else.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22