Frasier: Lilian, the next time your perfectionist tendencies drive you to distraction, just remember this quotation from Henry James: "Excellence does not require perfection."
Lillian: "That's very helpful. Thank you."
Frasier: Or is it "demand"? Hmm. "Require"? "Demand"? "Excellence does not require perfection." "Excellence does not demand perfection."
Roz: Aren't they the same thing?
Frasier: Of course not, Roz. Shush! "Excellence", "demand", "require", "demand", "require"- Oh! Or is it "mandate"?
Lillian: "I really have to go now." [call disconnects]
Frasier: Oh, well, it doesn't really matter, anyway, does it? Meantime, Seattle, this is Doctor Frasier Crane, wishing you good day- Oh! It's "require". It is "require"! And good mental health.

Frasier: Listen, I'm afraid I've got some bad news. I could only get two tickets for the spelling bee competition tomorrow.
Daphne: Oh, that's a shame. But we'll be there in spirit. It's probably just as well considering how emotional I get watching children compete. I keep thinking how much it means to them. Like the little girl who studies over candle light while her father's down at the local pub, drinking away the money for the light bill. Or the little girl on the school bus who pretends not to see her father waving at her from the pub. Then there's the little girl who thinks that by doing well she can grow up, purchase the local pub, and turn it into a circus so her father can keep his promise. [sobbing, exits]
Niles: We had a little wine at lunch.

Frasier: Frederick Crane, from Massachusetts, your word is "onomatopoeia"
[Freddie stands up and takes a breath.]
Frasier: Wrong. Where are your knees? I want to see spelling knees.
Frederick: Oh, yeah, right.
Frasier: The last thing I want is you passing out on stage because of locked knees.
Frederick: I know. Allison Sharpe, the "'Frisco Fainter".
Frasier: She went down like a sack of hammers.

Niles: Don't worry about the tickets. While I certainly would have gone to support Freddie, I have to admit wasn't looking forward to being back in that environment. [to Freddie] Don't get sidetracked by all the glitz and glamour of the bee. Spelling well is its own reward.

Frasier: Don't let her distract you with her wiles, Son. There'll be plenty of women once you win this thing, all right? You were a little wobbly on that last word. Just remember, when the root word is Greek, the "uh" sound is made with the letter "Y". So far, all the sneaky ones have had Greek roots.
Martin: [returning] Oh, so it's okay for you to stereotype.

Niles: You should be very proud of your accomplishment, Freddie. Just keep it in perspective. And don't forget the twenty-six little friends who got you here.

Frasier: What sort of an anomaly?
Dr. Gadston: You were clearly mouthing the letters as Frederick spelled the last word, Dr. Crane.
Frasier: I did no such thing!
Dr. Gadston: We have it on the tape.
Frasier: Well, if I did, it certainly wasn't a conscious act. It was like singing along at a concert. You know, I remember being admonished by the ushers for joining in a particularly intense performance of Das Lied von der Erde.

Frasier: Frederick, look, I know how upset you are. I'm so sorry. Frederick, aren't you going to say something?
Frederick: I talked to Mom today.
Frasier: You're a bigger man than I am.
Frederick: That's what she said.

Niles: The story is true. I never talked about it before, but I will. Since you also have the gift. Have a seat. I was a little younger than you. I'd been winning numerous competitions, but I was obsessed with one thing and one thing only, the National Championship. The time finally came and there I was, standing on that stage, waiting for the judge to say the final word, and suddenly it happened. It all clicked. All the rules, "i before e", assimilations, etymologies, they all became one. And then, became nothing. In that moment, I realized there was no word I couldn't spell. Competitions didn't matter anymore because I was one with the higher truth that is spelling. So when the judge said that last word, I simply walked away.
Frederick: Didn't you care what people said?
Niles: Oh, people said a lot of things that weren't true. "He didn't know the word." "He was scared." "Mafia this..." No, it didn't bother me. Because they couldn't take away what I knew in my heart. You know how to spell, and it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks.

Frasier: Freddie, you're doing great, son. Great!
Martin: Yeah, you got it made. Especially since that Asian kid was eliminated. They're the ones you have to watch out for.
Frasier: Dad! Don't stereotype!
Martin: Not even a positive one? Oh geez, what's happening in this country?