vill man vara fin får man lida pin

Swedish

Etymology

Literally, "If one wants to be pretty, one has to suffer torment." Pin is a form of pina that mostly only appears in this phrase/proverb (for the rhyme).

Proverb

vill man vara fin får man lida pin

Said when someone endures something (moderately) unpleasant in order to look good.
Korsetten var skitobekväm, men vill man vara fin får man lida pin
The corset was bloody uncomfortable, but if you want to pretty, you have to suffer

References