“Success is dependent upon the glands—sweat glands”

“Success is dependent upon the glands—sweat glands” means that success comes from hard work (“sweat”). Several newspapers in 1931 published the line: “A physician says that success depends on the functioning of the glands. The sweat glands?” “Success depends on functioning of the glands; sweat glands NOT omitted” was posted in a Pittsburgh sports locker room in 1955.
 
“Success is dependent upon the glands—sweat glands” has been credited to American author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar since at least 2000, but forms of the saying had already been in use for almost 70 years.
 
 
22 May 1931, Riverside (CA)

,“Tower of Jewels,” pg. 23, col. 7:
A physician says that success depends on the functioning of the glands. The sweat glands?
 
6 July 1931, Mason City (IA) Globe-Gazette, pg. 15, col. 2:
A physician says that success depends on the functioning of the glands. The sweat glands?—Minneapolis Journal.
   
Google Books
Canadian Poultry Review
Volume 55
1931
Pg. 314:
A physician says that success depends on the functioning of the glands — the sweat glands.
 
19 December 1944, Hutchinson (KS) News-Herald, “Southwest Breezes,”  pg. 4, col. 2:
“Success depends upon the proper functioning of the glands—especially the sweat glands.”- Harper Advocate.
 
Google News Archive
13 September 1955, Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette, ‘Writing Is On Wall For Panthers” by Myron Cope, pg. 12, col. 3:
On a tour of the Pitt dressing room at the Ellsworth Center you get the idea Coach Johnny Michelosen favors exertion. We quote from the signs on the walls:
 
“Success depends on functioning of the glands; sweat glands NOT omitted.”
 
9 May 1958, Idaho State Journal (Pocatello, ID), “Outlook” by Lyle Olson, pg. 6, col. 7:
A few of them read like: “This department issues everything but guts.”...“It ain’t the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”...“Success depends upon functioning of the glands, sweat glands not excluded.”
   
30 August 2000, St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press, “Take action to achieve your goals, change life,” BE Express:
“Success is dependent upon the glands—sweat glands.”—Zig Ziglar.
 
Google Books
10 Quotes:
Inspire and Motivate
By B.Venkata Ramana Rao
Chennai: T. Krishna Press
2004
Pg. 75:
Success is dependent upon the glands - sweat glands.
—Zig Ziglar
 
Google Books
Stand Up!:
An Inspiring Account of How God’s Message Saved My Life
By Eric D. Spencer
Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press
2012
Pg. 48:
Zig Ziglar, the sales guru and self-help author, accurately noted, “Success is dependent upon the glands— sweat glands.”