No cross, no crown.

The saying presents hardship as the path to a hoped-for reward: a person must bear a burden before enjoying the honor or benefit that follows.

More broadly, it treats sacrifice and endurance as part of pursuing something worthwhile, while leaving the nature of the eventual reward open.

Use it to encourage perseverance when someone faces difficulty in pursuing a valued goal. Take care not to imply that another person's suffering is deserved or certain to bring a reward.