“Success is like a fart. It only bothers people when it’s not their own” is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. “J. B. Steam’s Homily: Success is like a fart — only your own smells good” was printed in a 1979 book, but it’s not known who J. B. Steam is.
   
British science fiction author James P. Hogan (1941-2010) wrote in Voyage from Yesteryear (1982):
 
“Success is like a fart. Only your own smells nice.”
 
“Success is like a fart, only bothers people when its not their own” was posted on Twitter on May 10, 2011.
           
   
Wikipedia: Voyage from Yesteryear
Voyage from Yesteryear is a 1982 science fiction novel by James P. Hogan.
 
Google Books
1,001 logical laws, accurate axioms, profound principles, trusty truisms, homey homilies, colorful corollaries, quotable quotes, and rambunctious ruminations for all walks of life
By John Peers and Gordon Bennett
Garden City, NY: Doubleday
1979  
Pg. 56:
J. B. Steam’s Homily:
Success is like a fart — only your own smells good.
 
Google Groups: rec.music.industrial
Billy Idol…cyberpunk?..what the fuck?!
Dave Garner
6/28/93
(...)
* Success is like a fart. Ya can only stand yer own. *
 
Google Groups: alt.quotations
success
Ptbrady
11/23/97
Well, I’ll supply 3 quotes on success, none as eloquent as that already quoted from Booker T. Washington.
(...)
The second I heard at a party:
Success is like a fart. It smells good only to its owner.     
     
Google Books
What Now?:
Words of Wisdom for Life After Graduation
By Jennifer Leigh Selig
New York, NY: MJF Books
1999
Pg. 102:
Success is like a fart — only your own smells nice.
James P. Hogan
 
Google Groups: alt.quotations
Submit a quote for my book: It’s Like This
singerson
10/27/99
Success is like a fart: only your own smells nice.
James P. Hogan
 
2 September 2010, Northern Echo (Darlington, UK), “Double Deka” by Viv Hardwick:
As Steve Chambers (Byker Grove scriptwriter) always says ‘success is like a fart, you can only stand the smell of your own’.”
   
Twitter
Kim Van Es‏
@kimvanes
Success is like a fart, it only bothers people when it’s not theirs
10:24 AM - 13 Apr 2011
   
Twitter
Fizz‏
@MaddoMomo
Success is like a fart, only bothers people when its not their own.
5:13 AM - 10 May 2011
 
Twitter
Not Will Ferrell‏
@WillyFerrell
Success is like a fart. It only bothers people when it’s not their own.
4:33 PM - 4 Nov 2012
     
Google Books
More One Liners, Jokes and Gags
Compiled by Grant Tucker
London, UK: Biteback Publishing
2013
Pg. ?:
Success is like a fart. It only bothers people when it’s not their own.
   
Tu Biblioteca Universal
miércoles, 28 de junio de 2017
Voyage From Yesteryear (English) (James P. Hogan)
(...) (Chapter One—ed.)
Sirocco twirled one side of his moustache pensively for a second or two. “Success is like a fart,” he said. “Only your own smells nice.”
 
Reddit—Jokes
Success is like a fart.
submitted November 1, 2017 by shomali11
It only bothers people when it’s not their own.