Yorùbá proverbs
421
Bí èèyàn ò tọ̀ sójú kan, kìí hó.
- Literal translation
- If one does not urinate on a single spot, it won't foam.
- Meaning
- Focused efforts strengthen the eventual result
422
Bí èkòlò bá júbà ilẹ̀, ilẹ̀ á lanu.
- Literal translation
- If the earthworm would honour the soil, the soil would open up for it.
- Meaning
- Humility promotes; be humble.
423
Bí ẹkùn ò bá fẹ̀, èse là ńpèé.
- Literal translation
- If a leopard does not act mighty, it is looked at as a cat.
- Meaning
- Don't self-deprecate; think big
424
Bí èkúté bá fara balẹ̀, á jẹ nínú owó ológbò.
- Literal translation
- If the rat can be reasonably calm and patient, it would eat out of the cat's wealth.
- Meaning
- With patience, virtually nothing is impossible.
425
Bí ẹ̀mí bá wà, ìrètí ḿbẹ.
- Literal translation
- As long as there is life, there is hope.
- Meaning
- The best is yet to come. Keep hope alive and keep moving.
426
Bí ẹ̀mí bá wà, ìrètí ńbẹ
- Literal translation
- As long as there is life, there is hope
- Meaning
- With life, there is no impossibility; keep holding on
427
Bí ẹ̀mí bá wà, ìrètí ńbẹ.
- Literal translation
- As long as there is life, there is hope.
- Meaning
- The best is yet to come. Keep moving; it's not over yet
428
Bí ẹrú yóò bá di ọmọ ẹni, kì í ṣe ọ̀rọ̀ oòjọ́.
- Literal translation
- Even if one would adopt a slave as one's son, it is not a one day's affair.
- Meaning
- Be patient.
429
Bí ewé ṣe tóbi tó, kọ́ ló ṣe wúlò tó
- Literal translation
- How big a leaf is, is not necessarily how useful it is
- Meaning
- Appearance or size quite often does not count
430
Bí ewé ṣe tóbi tó, kọ́ ló ṣe wúlò tó.
- Literal translation
- How big a leaf is, is not necessarily how useful it is.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive; quite often, size is irrelevant
431
Bí èyàn bá dúró sí'nú oòrùn títí, bó pẹ́ bó yá, ibòji, á báa níbẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- If one tarries long in the sun, sooner or later (when the sun sets), the shade will come.
- Meaning
- Be persistent and keep hope alive: tough times won't last forever; if you won't quit, you can't but win.
432
Bí èyàn bá dúró sínú oòrùn títí, bó pẹ́ bó yá, ibòji, á báa níbẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- If one tarries long in the sun, eventually, the shade will come (when the sun sets).
- Meaning
- Tough times wont last forever; keep hope alive: be patient, be steadfast.
433
Bí èyàn bá lórí ńlá, ńṣe lèyàn ńfi fìlà bòó
- Literal translation
- Anyone with an outsized head ought to cover it with a cap
- Meaning
- Don't make an open show of your flaws
434
Bí èyàn bá máa kọ oúnjẹ, tẹran tẹran lèyàn ńkọ̀ ọ́.
- Literal translation
- If one would refuse a meal, one would refuse it along with the pieces of meat on it, as well.
- Meaning
- No half measures.
435
Bí èyàn bá máa kọ oúnjẹ, tẹran tẹran lèyàn ńkọ̀ọ́.
- Literal translation
- If one would refuse a meal, the refusal will include the meat in it.
- Meaning
- No half measure
436
Bí èyàn ò bá rìn ní igbèrí irọ́, wọn kì í paá mọ́'ni.
- Literal translation
- If one is not within the vicinity of falsehoods, one cannot be falsely accused.
- Meaning
- Personal integrity is crucial.
437
Bí èyàn ò bá tọ̀ sójú kan, kì í 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.
438
Bí èyàn óò bá jẹ ọ̀pọ̀lọ́, á jèyí tó lẹ́yin
- Literal translation
- If one must eat toad, it should be one with eggs
- Meaning
- If one must stoop, the cause should be noble
439
Bí ẹyẹ ò bá fín ẹyẹ ní'ràn, ojú ọrun tó ẹyẹ ẹ́ fò láì f'ara kan'ra.
- Literal translation
- If a bird won't seek the ill of another, the sky is wide enough for all to fly without colliding.
- Meaning
- Live and let live; no need to pull anyone down to rise: there is enough room for all
440
Bí ẹyẹ oko ò mọ bíntín lọ eré e kó kọ́lé ló máa máa bá kiri.
- Literal translation
- No matter how tiny a bird is, it's attention would be riveted on building it's home.
- Meaning
- Focus on tangibles; depth is superior to breadth; substance is better than appearance.