On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs

Meaning: Worthwhile results require some damage along the way.

Literally: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

Example: “La réorganisation va froisser quelques personnes, mais on ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs.” — The reorganization will ruffle a few feathers, but you can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.

Equivalents in English, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, and 2 more languages

English: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
Spanish: No se puede hacer tortilla sin romper huevos (literally: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs)
German: Wo gehobelt wird, da fallen Späne (literally: Where planing is done, shavings fall)
Italian: Non si fa nessuna frittata senza rompere le uova (literally: No omelette is made without breaking eggs)
Dutch: Waar gehakt wordt, vallen spaanders (literally: Where wood is chopped, chips fall)
Russian: Лес рубят — щепки летят (Les rubyat — shchepki letyat) (literally: When the forest is felled, chips fly)
Polish: Gdzie drwa rąbią, tam wióry lecą (literally: Where wood is chopped, shavings fly)