Sowing is not so hard as reaping.

[Säen is nicht so beschwerlich als ernten.]

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German poet, statesman, scientist
Elective Affinities [Die Wahlverwandtschaften], Part 2, ch. 5, “From Ottilie’s Journal [Aus Ottiliens Tagebuche]” (1809) [tr. Hollingdale (1971)]
    (Source)

(Source (German)). Alternate translation:

Sowing is not so difficult as reaping.
[Niles ed. (1872)]