ProverbWisdom
English origin
English originHe must crack the nut that would eat the kernel.
Meaning: Effort and perseverance are necessary prerequisites; you cannot enjoy rewards without enduring the difficult work required to obtain them.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and Russian
French: Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l'amande (literally: You must crack the stone to get the almond)
Spanish: El que quiera peces, que se moje el culo (literally: He who wants fish must get his backside wet)
Japanese: 蒔かぬ種は生えぬ (Makanu tane wa haenu) (literally: Seeds that are not sown do not sprout)
German: Ohne Fleiß kein Preis (literally: Without diligence, no prize)
Russian: Хочешь есть калачи, так не сиди на печи (Khochesh' yest' kalachi, tak ne sidi na pechi) (literally: If you want to eat buns, don't sit on the stove)
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- fall into place To become suddenly clear and fully understood when separate elements finally align.
- raise hell To cause a major disturbance or create considerable trouble and chaos.
- flavor of the week A person or thing that receives intense attention or popularity for a brief period before…
Keep exploring