[General] Never taste bitter doesn't know what is sweet.

[Silverobama]

Hi.

My student wrote this as her signature online "Never taste bitter doesn't know what is sweet". She's going through tough time in her life. Her meaning is clear "If you have never tasted what bitter tastes like, you will never know what sweet tastes like".

I wonder if there's an English version for this. And I think "No pain, no gain" expresses the same meaning as it does.

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't think "No pain, no gain" really works as an alternative. That simply means that if you're not in pain, you're not working hard enough to benefit. I know there is an English saying/idiom for this, but for the life of me I can't bring it to mind!

 

[Silverobama]

I don't think "No pain, no gain" really works as an alternative. That simply means that if you're not in pain, you're not working hard enough to benefit. I know there is an English saying/idiom for this, but for the life of me I can't bring it to mind!

They that sow in tears (pain experienced) shalt reap in joy (happiness as a result). Is it this one?

 

[Tarheel]

Hi.

My student wrote this as her signature online "Never taste bitter doesn't know what is sweet". She's going through a tough time in her life. Her meaning is clear "If you have never tasted what bitter tastes like, you will never know what sweet tastes like".

I wonder if there's an English version for this. And I think "No pain, no gain" expresses the same meaning as it does.

I'm pretty sure that the meaning of that expression is metaphorical, thus:

If you don't experience bad times you won't appreciate good times.

 

[emsr2d2]

They that sow in tears (pain experienced) shalt reap in joy (happiness as a result). Is it this one?

No. I've never heard that one.

I'm pretty sure that the meaning of that expression is metaphorical, thus:

If you don't experience bad times you won't appreciate good times.

Yes, that's exactly what it means! However, I'm certain there's a perfect saying in English that means that, but I still can't think of it!

[It does give me the opportunity to quote the fantastic Rafa Nadal's words that this thread brought to mind: "If you don't lose, you cannot enjoy the victories. So I have to accept both things."]

 

[GoesStation]

They that sow in tears (pain experienced) [STRIKE]shalt[/STRIKE] shall reap in joy (happiness as a result). Is it this one?

That's a bit different. I think the expression Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger expresses a similar meaning to what your student is trying to say. It's meant to be reassuring, but my family history tells me it isn't true.

"Shalt" is the archaic second-person singular informal conjugation of "will" (as seen in the Biblical commandment Thou shalt not kill). Use shall for the third-person forms.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

If you want to know what water is like, don't ask a fish.