Yorùbá proverbs
301
Ará oko tí yóò jẹ búrẹ́dì á fi èsúrú ránṣẹ́ sí ilé.
- Literal translation
- A farm dweller who wants to eat bread (from home), ought to send some aerial yams back home.
- Meaning
- Life is give and take; to reap, we should sow.
302
Ará oko tí yóò jẹ búrẹ́dì a fi èsúrú ránṣẹ́ sílé
- Literal translation
- A farm dweller that wants to eat bread will need to send some aerial yam home
- Meaning
- Give & take
303
Ará oko tí yóò jẹ búrẹ́dì, á fi èsúrú ránṣẹ́ sílé.
- Literal translation
- A farm dweller who would like to eat bread (from those at home), would do well to send some aerial yams (from the farm to those at) home.
- Meaning
- We easily receive when we are committed to giving: givers seldom lack
304
Àrẹ̀mọ má jobì, má ròde ẹmu, kí ọmọ lè dé ipò bàbá rẹ̀ ni
- Literal translation
- That the royal heir should desist from rioutous living, it's so he can succeed his father, the king.
- Meaning
- Happy to all faithful fathers and fathers-to-be out there. Thank you so much for your sacrifices
305
Àrẹ̀mọ má jobì, má ròde ẹmu, kó lè dé ipò bàbá rẹ̀ ni.
- Literal translation
- That the royal heir should desist from rioutous living, it's so he can succeed his father, the king.
- Meaning
- Be humble and be open to good advices, even if inconvenient: they are more for the benefit of the person advised.
306
Àṣá kì í rá bàbà, kí adìyẹ gbé kòkòrò dání.
- Literal translation
- A hen won't be preoccupied with an insect, while the kite hovers above.
- Meaning
- First thing first; no one focuses on trifles while danger looms; a crucial issue must be given the deserved attention.
307
Àṣá kì í rà kádìyẹ gbé kòkòrò dání
- Literal translation
- A kite can't hover and the chicken will hang on to an insect.
- Meaning
- Don't focus on trifles while danger looms
308
Àṣegbé kànkan ò sí, àṣepamọ́ ló wà
- Literal translation
- Actions may be covered up but can't be carried out with impunity.
- Meaning
- Nothing can be permanently covered up
309
Àṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ dáyé ológbò ni í jìyà, bó bá dàgbà tán, á máa tó ọdẹ ẹ́ ṣe.
- Literal translation
- Only as a kitten is the cat in deprivation, once fully grown it can do its own hunting.
- Meaning
- The best is yet to come; keep hope alive; tough times won't last forever.
310
Àṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀ dáyé ológbò ni í jìyà, bó bá dàgbà, á tó ọdẹ ẹ́ ṣe.
- Literal translation
- Only as a kitten is the cat in deprivation, once fully grown it can do its own hunting.
- Meaning
- The best is yet to come; keep hope alive; tough times won't last forever.
311
Àṣìṣe kò kan ọgbọ́n.
- Literal translation
- Possession of wisdom does not exclude anyone from mistakes.
- Meaning
- No one is above mistake
312
Àṣìṣe ò kan ọgbọ́n.
- Literal translation
- Possession of wisdom excludes no one from mistakes.
- Meaning
- No one is above mistakes; tolerance is crucial
313
Aṣíwájú àgùntàn ni í da àgùntàn nù.
- Literal translation
- It's the leading sheep that leads the others astray.
- Meaning
- Importance of good leadership
314
Aṣọ àtàtà kì í gbayì nínú àpò.
- Literal translation
- A beautiful clothe is seldom appreciated when packed up in a bag.
- Meaning
- Don't keep your gifts
315
Aṣọ àtàtà kìí gbayì nínú àpò
- Literal translation
- A beautiful clothe kept in a bag, can't be appreciated.
- Meaning
- Let your light shine; don't cover up your gift
316
Aṣọ funfun òun àbàwọ́n kì í rẹ́.
- Literal translation
- White clothes and stains are no friends.
- Meaning
- Persons with deeply contrasting values are seldom close
317
Aṣọ kọ̀rọ̀, ẹni kan kì í sáa nígbangba.
- Literal translation
- No one dries out in the open a clothing item that should be dried in the closet.
- Meaning
- A confidential issue should be treated as such.
318
Aṣọ ńlá kọ́ l'èyàn ńlá.
- Literal translation
- Being expensively attired does not connote wealth or importance.
- Meaning
- Appearance quite often can be deceptive
319
Aṣọ ńlá kọ́ lèyàn ńlá.
- Literal translation
- Clothes do not make a man.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive.
320
Asúramú kò tẹ́ bọ̀rọ̀ bọ̀rọ̀.
- Literal translation
- The diligent seldom falls into disrepute
- Meaning
- Diligence pays.