Yorùbá proverbs
681
Ẹni tí kò bá lè ṣe bí aláàárù l'Óyìngbò, kò lè ṣe bí Adégbọrọ̀ l'Ọ́jà Ọba.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is not willing to be a hired hand in a local market, cannot hope to become a wealthy merchant in a major one.
- Meaning
- Be willing to start with what you have, right where you are
682
Ẹni tí kò bá lọ kì í dé.
- Literal translation
- One who has not gone, cannot be arriving.
- Meaning
- You can't reap, if you have not sown
683
Ẹni tí kò bá rí fún ọmọ, kì í gba t'ọwọ́ ọmọ.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is unable to give to a child should not deprive the child of what he or she has.
- Meaning
- If you can't give, don't deprive; if you can't make better, don't worsen
684
Ẹni tí kò bá si ńlé lewúrẹ́ ẹ̀ ńbí kan
- Literal translation
- The goat of an absentee owner is the one that births only one kid.
- Meaning
- What's uncared for underperforms
685
Ẹni tí kò bá ṣubú ò lè dìde.
- Literal translation
- A person who has not fallen can't rise.
- Meaning
- Falling may well be a stepping stone
686
Ẹni tí kò dúpẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀fà, bẹ́ igi dí ọ̀nà egbèje.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is not grateful for small favours, blocks the path to bigger ones.
- Meaning
- Attitude of gratitude is it; kindness calls for gratitude; and gratitude beckons on more kindness
687
Ẹni ti kò lágbà lẹ́hìn kìí sàyà gbàǹgbà níta gbangba
- Literal translation
- Anyone who lacks good backing shouldn't be unduly obtrusive in the public.
- Meaning
- Be modest
688
Ẹni tí kò lè ṣe iṣẹ́ oníṣẹ́, kò ní lè ṣe tara rẹ̀
- Literal translation
- Whoever won't do someone else's work well, won't do his or hers well, as well.
- Meaning
- How we work for someone else, good or bad, is how we'll work for ourselves, ultimately; it pays to do our very best, always
689
Ẹni tí kò lè ṣe iṣẹ́ oníṣẹ́, kò ní lè ṣe tara rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- Whoever cannot do someone else's work well, won't do his or her own well, too.
- Meaning
- Diligence pays: how we work for someone else, good or bad, is how we'll work for ourselves; put in your very best, always
690
Ẹni tí kò lẹ́ni tí yóò wa, kì í sọnù.
- Literal translation
- Whoever has no one who would search for him, ought not to get lost.
- Meaning
- Not outdaring oneself
691
Ẹni tí kò mọ bí ẹgbẹ́ ẹ rẹ̀ ṣe là, á sá àsákú.
- Literal translation
- Whoever unduly bothers about his or her peers' relative successes, will hustle himself or herself to death.
- Meaning
- Contentment is it; compare yourself to no one: you don't know anyone's story: stay in your lane.
692
Ẹni tí kò mọ bí ẹgbẹ́ rẹ̀ ṣe là, á sá àsákú.
- Literal translation
- Whoever unduly bothers about his or her peers' relative successes, will hustle himself or herself to death.
- Meaning
- Compare yourself to no one; stay in your lane
693
Ẹni tí kò tíì kúrò láyé, kò lè mọ irú ẹni tí òun yó dà.
- Literal translation
- Whoever still has life, cannot be limited in what he or she can become.
- Meaning
- With life, there's no impossibility; it's not over yet: keep hope alive.
694
Ẹni tí kò tó ni í nà tó ńdè'nà de’ni, àjẹkún ìyà ni yóò jẹ.
- Literal translation
- Whoever cannot defeat someone in a fight, but decides to waylay the person, courts severe purnishment.
- Meaning
- Exercise self-control; don't be presumptuous
695
Ẹni tí ò bá gba kádàrá, yóò gba kodoro.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is unwilling to accept his lot will end up with nothing.
- Meaning
- Be contented
696
Ẹni tí ò bá mọ bí ẹgbẹ́ ẹ rẹ̀ ṣe là, onítọ̀hún á sá àsákú
- Literal translation
- Those unduly bothered about their peers' relative successes, would hustle themselves to death.
- Meaning
- Assess your life by no one's attainment; we all have different paths and timing: stay in your lane
697
Ẹni tí ò bá ṣubú ò lè dìde.
- Literal translation
- A person who has not fallen can't be rising.
- Meaning
- Falling may well be a stepping stone
698
Ẹni tí ò dúpẹ́ ẹgbẹfà, bẹ́'gi dí'nà egbèje.
- Literal translation
- Whoever is not thankful for 1,200 (units of money) has blocked the path to 1,400.
- Meaning
- Be thankful
699
Ẹni tí ò fẹ́ wọ àkísà, kì í bá ajá ṣe eré e géle.
- Literal translation
- Don't play rough with a dog, if you don't want to end up in tatters.
- Meaning
- Look before you leap; think before you act: actions come with consequences
700
Ẹni tí ò fẹ́ wọ àkísà, kìí bá ajá ṣe eré e géle
- Literal translation
- If you don't want to end up in tatters, don't play rough with a dog.
- Meaning
- Look before you leap