You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs

Meaning

Some disruption is required to achieve a difficult goal.

Usage

Justifies unpopular changes that lead to better results.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

A culinary proverb from 18th-century France about sacrifice.

Added to English collections of proverbs in the 1700s.