no pain, no gain come from

[minou30]

Where did the expression no pain, no gain come from

[Quizmonster]

'No gains without pains' is listed as a 16th century proverb in the Everyman Dictionary of Quotations. If it was a proverb half a millennium ago, it's not very likely that we'll ever discover who first said it now.

[Clanad]

In line with Q's citation, Benjamin Franklin (to add Anglo-American perspective) states the same colloquialism somewhat differently; "Things which hurt, instruct"... ca 1772...

[Quizmonster]

For a joint Anglo-American perspective, how about the following?

"No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown."

These words were written in a religious pamphlet during the 1600s by the Englishman, William Penn, the 'founder' of Pennsylvania.

It's clear that 'No this, no that' is a very old construction.