Yorùbá proverbs
21
A kì í dámọ̀nràn àti tà'kìtì lágbàlá ọ̀bọ, nítorí ọ̀bọ fúnrara rẹ̀ ọba òkìtì ni.
- Literal translation
- Never toy with somersaults in the vicinity of a monkey; monkeys, themselves, are experts at somersaulting.
- Meaning
- Remain modest and circumspect; make no public show of your weaknesses.
22
A kì í dé ejò mọ́ fìlà ká jayé ire
- Literal translation
- One can't put on a cap with a snake in it, and be at peace.
- Meaning
- Crucial issues must be promptly addressed
23
A kì í dé ejò mọ́ fìlà ká jayé ire.
- Literal translation
- One cannot put on a cap with a snake in it, and be at peace.
- Meaning
- Be conscious of the risks in your choices; avoid intolerably high risks or scenarios with zero way out
24
A kì í dúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ aláṣetì; aláṣeyọrí là ńkí.
- Literal translation
- No one appreciates a person who abandons a task, but the one who completes it.
- Meaning
- To start anything is not as crucial as finishing it: "finishiative" is superior to initiative.
25
A kì í f'ọmọ àparò s'ábẹ́ j'ọkà.
- Literal translation
- No one eats corn while a patridge is within his vicinity.
- Meaning
- Don't expose your assets to needless risks
26
A kì í fi ejò sí orí òrùlé sùn.
- Literal translation
- No one goes to sleep with a snake inside the roof of his house.
- Meaning
- Attend to a serious issue promptly.
27
A kì í fi ẹ̀tẹ̀ sí'lẹ̀ pa làpálàpá.
- Literal translation
- Wẹ ought not to leave leprosy unattended and focus on treating ringworm.
- Meaning
- Prioritise properly: first things first. attend to crucial matters, first
28
A kì í fi ẹ̀tẹ̀ sílẹ̀ pa làpálàpá.
- Literal translation
- Do not leave leprosy unattended while preoccupied with treating ringworm.
- Meaning
- Think perceptively & strategically: don't lose sight of the forest for the trees: look at the bigger picture; things are often more than they seem
29
A kì ì fi èyàn jẹ jagun jagun kó má lè tẹ eku pa
- Literal translation
- A person can't be made a warrior & he'd be unable to trample a rat to death
- Meaning
- Be competent
30
A kì í fi gbèsè sọ́rùn ṣe ọ̀ṣọ́.
- Literal translation
- We shouldn't indulge in an extravagant lifestyle while in debt.
- Meaning
- We should set our priorities right.
31
A kì í fi ibi ṣú olóore.
- Literal translation
- A benefactor should not be repaid with wickedness.
- Meaning
- Be grateful; honour your benefactor
32
A kì í fi iná sí orí òrùlé sùn.
- Literal translation
- No one goes to sleep with the roof of his house on fire.
- Meaning
- A serious issue requires prompt attention; a stitch in time saves nine
33
A kì í fi òdì àdá ṣán igbó dídí.
- Literal translation
- No one uses the blunt side of a cutlass to clear a thick forest.
- Meaning
- Always use the right tools and resources; use of wrong tools can prove inefficient.
34
A kì í fi ọjọ́ kan bọ́ ọmọ tó rù.
- Literal translation
- An emaciated child cannot be fattened in just one day.
- Meaning
- Good things take time; be patient.
35
A kì í fi ọjọ́ kan, bọ́ ọmọ tó rù.
- Literal translation
- A lean child cannot be fattened in just one day.
- Meaning
- Be patient; good things take time; don’t force issues before their time.
36
A kì í fi ojú ọwọ́ ṣiṣẹ́ tán, káa tún wá fi ẹ̀hìn ọwọ̀ dàánù.
- Literal translation
- Never destroy with your backhand what your open hand had accomplished.
- Meaning
- Avoid hasty and impulsive decisions; handle drastic decisions with caution.
37
A kì í fi ọ̀nà odò han ikún.
- Literal translation
- The ground squirrel need not be shown the way to the river.
- Meaning
- An expert in a field need not be tutored on it
38
A kì í fi orí adé sán gbàǹgede.
- Literal translation
- One ought not to bring the king into disrepute.
- Meaning
- Give honour to whom it is due
39
A kì í fi ọwọ́ kan pàtẹ́wọ́.
- Literal translation
- We cannot clap with one hand.
- Meaning
- Team spirit is it; seek to cooperate and collaborate more; together each achieves more
40
A kì í fọmọ àparò sábẹ́ j'ọkà
- Literal translation
- One should not be eating corn with a patridge within one's vicinity
- Meaning
- Protect your assets from obvious risks