you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs

you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs

Sometimes, you have to do unpleasant things in order to complete a task or meet a goal. Your students clearly don't respect you. I know you don't want to yell at them, but you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs. If I don't cut people's salaries, the company is going to go bankrupt. It's unfortunate, but you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs.
See also: breaking, egg, make, omelet, without
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • don't give up the ship
  • argue back
  • all in (one's) head
  • cart before the horse, don't put/set the
  • don't get me wrong
  • don't bet on it
  • don't beat a dead horse
  • don't cry before you are hurt
  • come it (with one)