She makes me love her and I like people who make me love them. It saves me so much trouble in making myself love them. — L. M. Montgomery. Canadian novelist (1874–1942) Love
It's not vanity to know your own good points. It would just be stupidity if you didn't; It's only vanity when you get puffed up about them.
Anyone who has gumption knows what it is, and anyone who hasn't can never know what it is. So there is no need of defining it.
Proverbs are all very fine when there's nothing to worry you, but when you're in real trouble, they're not a bit of help.