“Talent is God-given, be humble; conceit is self-given, be careful”

Basketball coach John Wooden (1910-2010) wrote in They Call Me Coach (1972) and other books:
 
“Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self-given; be careful.”
 
Newspaper columnist Walter Winchell wrote the saying in a 1955, but without assigning credit. The authorship is unknown. The saying has been used in sports, entertainment and other fields.
 
     
7 May 1955, Augusta (GA) Chronicle, “The Broadway breeze” by Walter Winchell, pg. A4, col. 7:
Memo on our office-wall: “Talent is God-given. be humble…Fame is Man-given. Be grateful…Conceit is Self-given. be careful.”
 
14 September 1962, New Orleans (LA) Times-Picayune, “From the Bench” by Buddy Diliberto, sec. 2, pg. 9, col. 2:
“You are all champions or you wouldn’t be here tonight,” Garagiola said.
 
“But always remember, talent is God-given; fame is man-given and conceit is self-given. Be careful of that last one,” he said.
 
Google Books
The Band Director’s Guide
By Kenneth L. Neidig
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall
1964
Pg. 250:
Talent is God-given—be humble.
Fame is man-given—be grateful.
Conceit is self-given—be careful.
 
Google Books
Courage to Conquer:
America’s athletes speak their faith
By LeRoy King
Westwood : Revell
1966
Pg. ?:
I recently heard a clergyman from New England say: “Talent is God-given; be grateful. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self -given; be careful.”
 
Google Books
They Call Me Coach
By John R. Wooden withJack Tobin
New York, NY: Bantam Books
1973, ©1972
Pg. 185:
Talent is God-given—be humble.
Fame is man-given—be grateful.
Conceit is self-given—be careful.
   
ESPN.com
Originally Published: June 4, 2010
The Wizard’s wisdom: ‘Woodenisms’
By ESPN.com staff
The life lessons taught by John Wooden have become legend. Here’s a collection of some of the greatest “Woodenisms.”
(...)
“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”