Yorùbá proverbs
821
Ẹṣin iwájú ni ti ẹ̀yìn ńwò sáré.
- Literal translation
- It's the lead of the horse in front that those behind follow.
- Meaning
- A group is defined by its leader
822
Eṣinṣin ò mọ ikú, jíjẹ ni tirẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- The fly is ignorant of deadly risks, all it desires is to eat.
- Meaning
- Some offers are not as good as they seem
823
Eṣinṣin ò mọ ikú; jíjẹ ni tirẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- The fly is ignorant of deadly risks; all it desires is to eat.
- Meaning
- Be wary of greed and inordinate appetites: they blindfold; tame your appetites and desires and curb greed.
824
Eṣinṣin tí kò bá gbọ́ ikilọ ló ńbá ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ wọ ẹnu ọ̀bọ.
- Literal translation
- Only a disobedient housefly goes with (a bite of) banana into the monkey's mouth.
- Meaning
- Lack of self-control can be risky; we must moderate our appetite and tastes.
825
Eṣinṣin tí kò bá gbọ́ ìkìlọ̀ ló ńbá ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ wọ ẹnu ọ̀bọ.
- Literal translation
- Only a disobedient housefly accompanies (a bite of) banana into the monkey's mouth.
- Meaning
- Moderation is it; lack of self-control can be costly.
826
Eṣinṣin tó ńbọ́dẹ rìn ló ǹmu ẹ̀jẹ̀ àmuyó
- Literal translation
- It's the fly that relates with a hunter that gets to drink blood, contentedly
- Meaning
- Power of networking
827
Ẹ̀sọ̀ ẹ̀sọ̀ lejò fi ńgun àgbọn.
- Literal translation
- It's with patience that snakes climb coconut palms.
- Meaning
- Be patient, but determined
828
Ẹ̀sọ̀ ẹ̀sọ̀ ni ìgbín fi ńgun igi
- Literal translation
- Slowly and steadily is how snails climb trees
- Meaning
- Patience and persistence lead to success
829
Etí kan ò yẹ orí, bàtà kan ò yẹ ẹsẹ̀
- Literal translation
- A single ear does not suit the head, & a single shoe does not suit the feet
- Meaning
- Some things aren't comely
830
Etí kan ò yẹ orí, bàtà kan ò yẹ ẹsẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- A single ear does not suit the head; a single shoe does not suit the feet.
- Meaning
- Do things properly and in order.
831
Etí kan ò yẹ orí; bàtà kan ò yẹ ẹsẹ̀
- Literal translation
- A single ear doesn't suit the head; a single shoe doesn't suit the feet.
- Meaning
- Some things are inappropriate
832
Etí mẹta ò yẹ orí; èèyàn mẹ́ta ò lè dúró ní méjì-méjì.
- Literal translation
- Three ears do not suit the head; three people cannot stand in groups of twos.
- Meaning
- Do things properly and in order.
833
Etí mẹ́ta ò yẹ orí; èèyàn mẹ́ta ò lè dúró ní méjì-méjì.
- Literal translation
- Three ears do not suit the head; three people cannot stand in groups of twos.
- Meaning
- There is always a right and wrong way to do anything: focus on the right way.
834
Etí tó bá tọrọ ọ̀rọ̀ dandan ni kó gbọ́ọ.
- Literal translation
- The ears that asked for words would surely hear them.
- Meaning
- Effects definitely result from causes
835
Ètò lòfin kínnín lóde ọ̀run.
- Literal translation
- Order is the first law in heaven.
- Meaning
- Orderliness is crucial
836
Ewé fi àwọ̀ jọ ara, ṣùgbọ́n wọ́n ò fi ojú jọ ara wọn.
- Literal translation
- Leaves share the same colour but they don't look alike
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive
837
Ewé kan kì í bọ́ lára igi, kí Ọlọ́run má mọ̀.
- Literal translation
- A leaf cannot drop off a tree without God's foreknowledge.
- Meaning
- Nothing takes God by surprise; nothing surprises God.
838
Ewé kan kì í bọ́ lára igi, kí Ọlọ́run Ọba má mọ̀.
- Literal translation
- A leaf can't drop off a tree without God's foreknowledge.
- Meaning
- Nothing surprises God; nothing and no one escape His attention; keep hope alive: He will get to you
839
Ewé kì í dédé rọ, ọmọ èyàn ló jáa tó fi ńrọ.
- Literal translation
- Leaves do not just wither on their own, but they do when cut off by man.
- Meaning
- Effects are caused
840
Ewúrẹ́ ò lóun ò ṣe ọmọ ìyá àgùtàn; àgùtàn ló ní ìyá òun kò bí dúdú.
- Literal translation
- The (black) goat did not object to being the sheep's sibling; it's the sheep that insisted its mother has no black offspring.
- Meaning
- Pursue cooperation and collaboration.