Yorùbá proverbs
221
Àìmọṣẹ́ kọ̀ ló ńmú kí ẹṣin kú sí ogun
- Literal translation
- Not knowing how to say 'No' is what makes the horse perish in battle.
- Meaning
- Not every offer one accedes to
222
Àìmọṣẹ́ kọ̀ ọmọ ajá, lọdẹ fi ńrán an níṣẹ́ ikú.
- Literal translation
- Not knowing how to say no, is why the dog gets sent on life-threatening errands by the hunter.
- Meaning
- Learn to say “No”; it is not every offer that one accedes to.
223
Àìní ìforítì àparò ló sọ ọ́ di aláṣọ pípọ́n.
- Literal translation
- Patridge's lack of perseverance is what gave it its dirty garb.
- Meaning
- Perseverance is it; Lack of perseverance may deprive you of what ought to rightfully be yours
224
Àìní ìyàwó ò ṣeé fi dákẹ́.
- Literal translation
- To have no wife is not an issue to be silent about.
- Meaning
- Reflects the importance of marital union to the Yorubas
225
Àìnísùúrù ìnàkí ló sọọ́ di ará inú igbó
- Literal translation
- Gorilla's impatience is what made it an inhabitant of the forest.
- Meaning
- Be patient; impatience is risky
226
Àìnísùúrù ìnàkí ló sọọ́ di ará inú igbó.
- Literal translation
- Gorilla's impatience is what made it an inhabitant of the forest.
- Meaning
- Impatience can be costly.
227
Àìnísùúrù ìnàkí, ló sọọ́ di ará inú igbó.
- Literal translation
- Gorilla's impatience is what made it an inhabitant of the forest.
- Meaning
- Be patient; impatience can exact a heavy price
228
Àìsanra tó ajá ológìnní kì í ṣe ti àìjẹun ká'nú, bí'ran rẹ̀ ṣe mọ ni.
- Literal translation
- Cats relative smallness to dogs isn't for want of food; that's how cats are.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive; respect what at first sight is not clearly obvious
229
Àìsanra tó ajá ológìnní kì í ṣe ti àìjẹun ká'nú; bí ìran rẹ̀ ṣe mọ ni.
- Literal translation
- The smaller frame of cats' relative to dogs isn't for want of food; that's cats' genetic makeup.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive; often, there is more than is immediately obvious
230
Àìṣedédé ará ayé, ló ńmú’ni rántí ará ọ̀run.
- Literal translation
- The untoward behaviour of those alive is what makes one pines for those who had gone.
- Meaning
- Good character is it; a good legacy, which typically results from a good character is enduring
231
Àìsí olójú, ẹnìkan kì í tìí.
- Literal translation
- An eye cannot be closed in the absence of the owner.
- Meaning
- Help cannot be rendered to an unwilling recipient
232
Àìtètè mú olè, olè á mú olóko.
- Literal translation
- If a thief (in a farm) is not promptly apprehended, he or she will (be emboldened to) accuse the farm owner as the thief.
- Meaning
- Tardiness can be costly; falsehoods not promptly challenged would pose as truths
233
Àìtètè mú olè, olè ńmú olóko
- Literal translation
- A thief, if not promptly apprehended, would (be emboldened to) apprehend the farm owner
- Meaning
- Decrying tardiness
234
Ajá ìsìnyì ló mọ ehoro ìsìnyì ńlé
- Literal translation
- It is the modern day dogs that can chase the modern day rabbits
- Meaning
- New challenges calls for new approaches
235
Ajá ìsìnyì, ló mọ ehoro ìsìnyì ńlé.
- Literal translation
- Only the modern day dogs can chase the modern day rabbits.
- Meaning
- Be current; update yourself constantly.
236
Ajá kì í rorò títí kí ó ṣọ́ ojú'lé méjì.
- Literal translation
- A dog can't be so vicious as to be able to watch over two houses.
- Meaning
- Together, we can do more.
237
Ajá kì í rorò títí kó ṣọ́ ojú'lé méjì.
- Literal translation
- A dog can't be so vicious as to watch over two houses.
- Meaning
- There is a limit to what anyone can do
238
Ajá kì í rorò títí, kó ṣọ́ ojú'lé méjì.
- Literal translation
- A dog cannot be so ferocious as to watch over two separate houses.
- Meaning
- Regardless of how competent anyone is, there is a limit to what any one person can do: cooperate and collaborate more
239
Ajá kìí rorò títí kó ṣọ́ ojúlé méjì
- Literal translation
- No matter how vicious a dog is, it can't watch over two houses.
- Meaning
- There's a limit to what anyone can do
240
Àjà ló lẹrù, irọ́ ni pẹpẹ ńpa
- Literal translation
- The attic 'owns' luggages, the shelf is merely bluffing.
- Meaning
- Pretences to own another's assets