Yorùbá proverbs
401
Bí àáké ṣe lágbára tó, kò leè ṣiṣẹ́ ti abẹfẹ́lẹ́ màa ṣe.
- Literal translation
- As powerful as the axe is, it cannot do the work the razor blade will do.
- Meaning
- We all have our strengths and our places; envy no one: embrace and love your uniqueness.
402
Bí agbada ò bá gbóná, àgbàdo ò leè ta.
- Literal translation
- If the frying pan is not heated up, the corns cannot pop.
- Meaning
- Good things do not always come easy: no pain, no gain; hang in there: don't give up.
403
Bí àgbẹ̀ ò bá gbin akèrègbè, kí ni aluṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀ fẹ́ rí lù?
- Literal translation
- Had the farmer not planted the gourd plant, what would the player of Sekere instrument (beaded gourd) play with?
- Meaning
- We are all interconnected and interdependent; collaborate more; no man or woman is an island
404
Bí agbọ́n ṣe lóró tó, oúnjẹ ni fún aláǹgbá
- Literal translation
- Despite how venomous the wasp is, it is food for the lizard.
- Meaning
- One man's meat is another's poison
405
Bí agbọ́n ṣe lóró tó, oúnjẹ ni fún aláǹgbá.
- Literal translation
- As venomous as the wasp is, it is food for the lizard.
- Meaning
- It's a question of perspectives: what is a venomous insect to one is a potential pet food to another; quite often, what you see is what you get.
406
Bí alákàrà ò kà á, agbada rẹ̀ ńkà á
- Literal translation
- If the person frying àkàrà (bean cakes) is not counting the àkàrà, her frying pan is counting them.
- Meaning
- Be considerate and fair; be empathetic: those adversely affected by your actions will definitely feel their negative impact
407
Bí àṣedànù ò bá ní í pọ̀, ẹni a ṣ'oore fún ò ní mọ̀ ọ́.
- Literal translation
- If waste (of one's resources) won't be significant, a recipient of one's benevolence will prove ungrateful.
- Meaning
- Always show gratitude; to take kindness for granted is to limit or eliminate it
408
Bí aṣeni bá ní ibi mẹ́fà, yóò fi ọ̀kan tàbí méjì, ṣe ara rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- A wicked person who has up to six evil ways (to hurt others), will invariably hurt himself (or herself) with one or two.
- Meaning
- Seeking to hurt others does not pay; we will reap whatever we sow.
409
Bí báaṣe ò bá báa ṣe é, kíni báalá fẹ́ rí pọ́nlá?
- Literal translation
- If those who are to support do not provide needed support, what would those who are to join in the licking get to lick?
- Meaning
- Life is give and take.
410
Bí èbù ò rà, a kò lè fi ojú kan ègbodò.
- Literal translation
- If the yam seedlings are not left to rot (when planted), no new yams can be harvested.
- Meaning
- Good things take time and some things may have to get worse before they get better: be patient - be prepared to wait things out.
411
Bí èèrà bá fi'ni pe'gi, àá fi ọwọ́ wọ dànù ni.
- Literal translation
- If an ant takes one for a tree, one simply brushes it off with the hand.
- Meaning
- Courtesy and self-respect are crucial; to be unconscionably discourteous is to court humiliation.
412
Bì èèwọ̀ ò bá pa'ni a máa pọ́n'ni láṣọ.
- Literal translation
- Even if an objectionable act does not kill, it may weaken one, financially.
- Meaning
- Good or bad, actions come with inviolable consequences; choose and act wisely.
413
Bì èèwọ̀ ò bá pani a máa pọ́n ni láṣọ
- Literal translation
- If an abominable act doesn't kill, it may improverish.
- Meaning
- Obedience is crucial; better safe than sorry
414
Bí èèyàn gún iyán bọ́ ìlú yóò lọ́ọ̀tá; bó sì sọ òkò s’ọ́jà, yóò lọ́ọ̀rẹ́ tirẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- If you feed the whole town, you will have enemies; yet, even if you are notoriously wicked, you will have friends.
- Meaning
- You can't please (nor displease) everyone; do your best and move on
415
Bí èèyàn ngún iyán bọ́ ìlú yóò lọ́ọ̀tá; bó sì ńsọ òkò s’ọ́jà, yóò lọ́ọ̀rẹ́
- Literal translation
- If you feed the whole town with pounded yam, you will have haters; yet if you pelt the market with stones, you will have (some) friends.
- Meaning
- You will never please everyone; do your best and move on
416
Bí èèyàn ngún iyán bọ́ ìlú yóò lọ́ọ̀tá; bó sì ńsọ òkò s’ọ́jà, yóò lọ́ọ̀rẹ́ tirẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- Feed the whole nation, you can't but have enemies; yet be notoriously wicked, you'll still have your own friends.
- Meaning
- You'll never be loved (nor hated) by everyone; do your best and move on
417
Bí èèyàn ò bá tọ̀ sójú kan, kìí hó
- Literal translation
- If one does not urinate on a single spot, the urine won't foam.
- Meaning
- Be focused; don't spread yourself thin
418
Bí èèyàn ò bá tọ̀ sójú kan, kìí hó.
- Literal translation
- If one does not urinate on a single spot, the urine won't foam.
- Meaning
- Be focused; don't spread yourself thin
419
Bí èèyàn ò tọ̀ sójú kan, kì í hó
- Literal translation
- If one does not urinate on a single spot, the urine won't foam
- Meaning
- Dilution of efforts weakens the results
420
Bí èèyàn ò tọ̀ sójú kan, kì í hó.
- Literal translation
- If one does not urinate on a single spot, the urine won't foam
- Meaning
- Unfocused efforts weakens the results