Yorùbá proverbs
661
Ẹni táa fún lóbì tí ò ṣọpẹ́, báa fun lọ́mọ kò ní ṣàna.
- Literal translation
- A person who isn't thankful when given kolanut won't pay his dues if given a bride.
- Meaning
- Gratitude is it; whoever isn't grateful for small favours won't be grateful for big ones.
662
Ẹni tí a fẹ́ rí, la fẹ́ rí; kò sí ọjọ́ táa jí, táà rí èèyàn.
- Literal translation
- The person we love to see is the only one who interests us; there is no day we wake up without people around.
- Meaning
- Love can be choosy; to be lonely or miss anyone is not for want of people around.
663
Ẹni tí a kò bá fẹ́ nilé rẹ̀ ńjìnnà
- Literal translation
- It is the person we don't want to visit who lives afar off
- Meaning
- Excuses exist for what we lack interest in
664
Ẹni tí a kò bá fẹ́ nilé rẹ̀ ńjìnnà.
- Literal translation
- Only those we are not keen on visiting live afar off.
- Meaning
- We always make time for what's crucial to us.
665
Ẹni tí a mọ̀ délé délé là ńfẹ́, ẹni fẹ́ ọmọ ní ijù á fẹ́ ẹbọra
- Literal translation
- Marry someone whose family backgound you know reasonably well; whoever marries someone found in a wilderness (not well-known) will marry a ghost (strange spouse).
- Meaning
- Don't be flippant with serious issues.
666
Ẹni tí a ńbá ná'jà la ńwò a kì í wo ariwo ọjà.
- Literal translation
- Wẹ should be focused on the person we are trading with and not the din and bustle in the market.
- Meaning
- Be focused; shun distractions.
667
Ẹni tí a ńbá ná'jà la ńwò; a kì í wo ariwo ọjà.
- Literal translation
- One ought to focus on the party with whom one is trading and not on the din of the marketplace.
- Meaning
- Be focused; ignore distractions
668
Ẹni tí a ńbá nájà la ńwò a kìí wo ariwo ọjà
- Literal translation
- One should focus on one's trading partner & not on the din & bustle of the market
- Meaning
- Be focused
669
Ẹni tí a ńbọ láti fi rú ẹbọ ìlú, là ńpè lọ́ba.
- Literal translation
- A person fed and pampered in order to be offered for sacrifice for (the good of the town) is the one called a king.
- Meaning
- Positions of responsibilities can be demanding.
670
Ẹni tí a ńwò kì í wò'ran.
- Literal translation
- The person others are watching should not join in the watching, as well.
- Meaning
- Be active, be involved: don't be an onlooker in your own game; don't be a spectator: dive in. proverb
671
Ẹni tí a ṣe lóore tí kò dúpẹ́, bí ìgbà tí ọlọ́ṣà kó'ni lẹ́rù lọ ni.
- Literal translation
- An ungrateful recipient of one's kindness, makes one feel like one has been robbed.
- Meaning
- Pay attention - never trivialize a kind act; show gratitude; ingratitude inhibits kindness
672
Ẹni tí aà fẹ́ nilé ẹ̀ ńjìnnà
- Literal translation
- The person one isn't interested in, always lives too far away
- Meaning
- We seek excuses for what doesn't interest us
673
Ẹni tí bíńtí ò tó, púpọ̀ yóò jìnnà sí i.
- Literal translation
- Abundance will be far from whoever is not contented with a little.
- Meaning
- Contentment is it; it makes for increase.
674
Ẹni tí bíńtí ò tó, púpọ̀ yóò jìnnà si.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is not contented with a little, much will be far from him.
- Meaning
- Contentment makes for increase
675
Ẹni tí bíńtín ò tó, púpọ̀ yóò jìnnà sí i.
- Literal translation
- Abundance will be far from whoever is not contented with a little.
- Meaning
- Contentment is it; it makes for increase.
676
Ẹni tí ẹnikan ńpè ní ìyá, ìyàwó ló jẹ́ fún ẹlòmíràn
- Literal translation
- A woman referred to as a mother by someone is a wife to another.
- Meaning
- Different strokes
677
Ẹni tí kò bá gba èyí tó mi, èyí tẹ́ mi ló máa gbà.
- Literal translation
- Whoever won’t accept contentment, has accepted dishonour.
- Meaning
- Live in contentment.
678
Ẹni tí kò bá gba kádàrá, yóò gba kodoro.
- Literal translation
- Whoever won't accept his destined lot per time would end up with nothing.
- Meaning
- Live in contentment.
679
Ẹni tí kò bá lè jìyà tó kún ahá, kò leè gbádùn ọrọ̀ tó kúnnú àmù.
- Literal translation
- Whoever cannot endure a cup-filled deprivation cannot enjoy a pot-filled wealth.
- Meaning
- No pain, no gain; no sweat, no sweet
680
Ẹni tí kò bá lè jìyà tó kún ahá, ò lè gbádùn ọrọ̀ tó kúnnú àmù.
- Literal translation
- Whoever cannot endure a cup-filled deprivation cannot enjoy a pot-filled wealth.
- Meaning
- No pain, no gain; no sweat, no sweet.