a little (hard) work never killed anyone
Doing hard, arduous work won't have any ill effects on a person, and, in fact, it is often beneficial to them. I told Mrs. Smith that you would help clean out her attic, and I don't want to hear any complaints about it—a little work never killed anyone. I think it would be good for Sarah to get a job this summer. A little hard work never killed anyone, after all. A: "I'll never get this rust off of here!" B: "Oh, just keep scrubbing—a little hard work never killed anyone."
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