Meaning
Anything worthwhile costs hard work and sacrifice — you cannot get 'good' (success, reward) without effort and discomfort. The image is of hard, sweaty labour that makes your nose run; there is no gain without that toil. One of the most-quoted Jamaican proverbs on the price of success.
Examples
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Yuh haffi study hard fi pass — if yuh want good, yuh nose haffi run.
You have to study hard to pass — nothing good comes without effort.
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Nuttn nuh come easy; if yuh want good, yuh nose haffi run.
Nothing comes easy; success takes sacrifice.
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Yuh haffi work hard fi succeed; if yuh want gud, yuh nose haffi run.
You have to work hard to succeed; nothing good comes without effort.
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Nobody nah give yuh nutten free — if yuh want gud, yuh nose haffi run.
Nobody gives you anything for free — you must strive for what you want.
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She study late every night; if yuh want gud, yuh nose haffi run.
She studies late every night; if you want good things, you have to toil.
Origin
A traditional proverb; hard toil (a running nose) is the price of 'good'. See Hustling, Patience man ride donkey.
How it’s used
Success requires hard work and sacrifice. See Hustling, Day-work.