Yorùbá proverbs
461
Bí ìtàkùn bá lè pa ẹnu pọ̀, wọ́n á mú erin so.
- Literal translation
- If creeping plants could unite, they would tie up an elephant.
- Meaning
- Unity is crucial; together, we can do more.
462
Bí ìtàkùn bá lè pa ẹnu pọ̀, wọ́n ámú erin so.
- Literal translation
- If creeping plants could unite, they would easily tie up an elephant.
- Meaning
- Collaborate more; together, we can do more.
463
Bí ìyà ńlá bá gbé'ni ṣán'lẹ̀, kéékèèké á máa g'orí ẹni.
- Literal translation
- Tripped by a major setback, one easily becomes vulnerable to minor ones.
- Meaning
- Be sympathetic and give others the benefit of the doubt; you never know what unseen major issue someone is grappling with.
464
Bí ìyá ò sí, ìyà tó wo ọmọ dàgbà
- Literal translation
- Without a mother, life's challenges are well able to train a child to maturity
- Meaning
- Challenges can be positive
465
Bí kùkùté ṣé kéré tó, kò sí ẹni tó lè fi ẹsẹ̀ fà á tu.
- Literal translation
- As small as the tree stump is, no one can uproot it with the foot.
- Meaning
- Judge nothing by it's appearance; what is deemed inconsequential may well pack a hefty punch.
466
Bí ó bá ku ọwọ́ kan àdán, yóò fi rọ igi
- Literal translation
- Even if left with just one paw, the bat will still hang unto a tree branch.
- Meaning
- Don't give up
467
Bí ó bá ku ọwọ́ kan àdán, yóò fi rọ igi.
- Literal translation
- Even if a bat is left with just one paw, it will hang unto a tree branch.
- Meaning
- Dogged determination
468
Bí ó bá ku ọwọ́ kan àdán, yóò fi rọ'gi
- Literal translation
- Even if a bat is left with just one paw, it'll still hang on to a tree branch
- Meaning
- Dogged determination
469
Bí ó ku èní ku ọ̀la kí òǹgbẹ pa agílítí kú, òjò á rọ̀.
- Literal translation
- If the iguana lizard would die of thirst, within a day or two, the rain would fall.
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive; it is not over yet; better times are still ahead
470
Bí ó ti wù kí ojú ọ̀run funfun tó, sánmà dúdú yó wà
- Literal translation
- No matter how bright the sky, some dark clouds will exist.
- Meaning
- Challenges aren't unusual
471
Bí òfé ti ńfò la ti ńmọ̀ọ́ lákọ ẹyẹ.
- Literal translation
- By its prowess in flying is how a parrot is adjudged a top-notch bird.
- Meaning
- Think big; go for excellence
472
Bí ojú ò bá fọ́ ẹsẹ̀ kìí ṣìnà
- Literal translation
- If the eyes are not blind, the legs won't miss the way
- Meaning
- Vision is critical: you can't get what you can't see
473
Bí ojú ò bá fọ́, ẹsẹ̀ kìí ṣìnà.
- Literal translation
- If the eyes do not go blind, the legs can't miss the way.
- Meaning
- Vision is crucial
474
Bí oko bá tilẹ̀ dára bí ilé, ibi kan lèyàn ńfọwọ́ mú
- Literal translation
- Even if the farm is as nice as the home, one ought to stick to one.
- Meaning
- Being focused..
475
Bí oko bá tilẹ̀ dára bí ilé, ibi kan lèyàn ńfọwọ́ mú.
- Literal translation
- Even if the farm is as nice as the home, one ought to stick with one.
- Meaning
- Be decisive
476
Bí ọkọ̀ kan ó re Ejínrín (a town), ẹgbẹgbẹ̀rún ẹ̀ á lọ
- Literal translation
- If one bus won't go to Ejinrin, thousands others will go.
- Meaning
- Alternatives always exist
477
Bí ọkọ̀ kan ó re Ejínrín (a town), ẹgbẹgbẹ̀rún ẹ̀ á lọ.
- Literal translation
- If one bus won't go to Ejinrin, thousands others will go.
- Meaning
- Alternatives exist
478
Bí ọkọ̀ kan ó re Ejínrín, ẹgbẹgbẹ̀rún ẹ̀ á lọ
- Literal translation
- If one bus won't go to Ejinrin, thousands others will.
- Meaning
- Alternative courses of action exist
479
Bí ọkọ̀ kan ó re Ejínrín, ẹgbẹgbẹ̀rún ẹ̀ á lọ.
- Literal translation
- If one bus won't go to Ejinrin town, thousands others will go.
- Meaning
- No one, and nothing is irreplaceable; alternatives always exist, if we look well enough.
480
Bí ọkọ̀ kan ó re Ejìnrìn, ẹgbẹgbẹ̀rún ẹ̀ á lọ.
- Literal translation
- If a bus won't go to Ejìnrìn town, thousands others will.
- Meaning
- Alternatives exist: be open-minded enough to consider them; there is always a way out: keep hope alive.