“Kick against the pricks”in other languages

Same idea, different pictures

English and Spanish share an image from the ancient world: an ox kicking against the goad, the pointed stick used to drive it, only wounds itself. English readers know it from the Bible, where Paul hears “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks”. Spanish says dar coces contra el aguijón.

French kicks against the shafts of the cart, ruer dans les brancards. It's closer to plain rebellion: a horse fighting its harness.