Yorùbá proverbs
881
Gbogbo àlùwàlá ológbò ò kọjá à ti kẹ́ran jẹ
- Literal translation
- All the ablutions of the cat were mere ploys to steal some beef.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive
882
Gbogbo àlùwàlá ológbò, kò kọjá à ti kẹ́ran jẹ
- Literal translation
- All the ablutions of the cat are mere ploys to steal some meat
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive
883
Gbogbo ara lasẹ́ fi ńjomi.
- Literal translation
- Sieves leak water through all of their holes.
- Meaning
- Being perceptive
884
Gbogbo aṣọ kọ́ là nsá lóòrùn.
- Literal translation
- It is not all clothes that one dries in the sun.
- Meaning
- Different situations call for different approaches
885
Gbogbo aṣọ kọ́ là ńsá lóòrùn.
- Literal translation
- It's not all clothes that are dried in the sun.
- Meaning
- Different situations call for different approaches
886
Gbogbo àwọn tó ńsun kọ́ ló ńhanrun.
- Literal translation
- Not all those who are sleeping snore.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive; read between the lines, see beyond the obvious, and hear beyond what is said; drill down: often, there is more, just below the surface
887
Gbogbo èèyàn oníwà tútù kọ́ lonínúure.
- Literal translation
- It is not everyone with quiet disposition who is kind-natured.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive; be perceptive.
888
Gbogbo èèyàn oníwà tùtù kọ́ lonínúure.
- Literal translation
- Not everyone with a pleasant disposition is kind-natured.
- Meaning
- Niceness is not necessarily goodness; appearance can be deceptive
889
Gbogbo ẹkún kọ́ làpẹrẹ ìbànújẹ́; gbogbo ẹ̀rín sì kọ́ ló túmọ̀ sí ìdùnnú.
- Literal translation
- Not all tears signify sadness; not all laughters imply happiness.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive; look beyond the obvious
890
Gbogbo ẹnu kọ́ la fi ńpe ọmọ alákàrà
- Literal translation
- To beckon on the bean cake seller need not be with much noise
- Meaning
- Not all issues need maximum attention
891
Gbogbo ẹran tó bá dé inú ọbẹ̀ ló ńṣakọ.
- Literal translation
- All meat parts, once in a pot of soup, are haughty.
- Meaning
- Environment quite often affects attitude
892
Gbogbo ìgbẹ́ kọ́ lọdẹ ti ńpa ọ̀yà; gbogbo ogun kọ́ lakíkanjú ti ńyege.
- Literal translation
- Hunters do not always kill grasscutters in every expedition nor do warriors win every battle.
- Meaning
- Win some, lose some; remain undeterred; there'll always be another day; rise up and give it another shot.
893
Gbogbo igi tí elégbède bá lù dídún ni í dún.
- Literal translation
- Whatever tree the monkey pats, responds.
- Meaning
- Precious little is impossible to whoever, backed by competence, confidently and persistently dares; go ahead, make your move; have no expectation & make no room for failure
894
Gbogbo ohun tí ojú bá rí kọ́ ni ẹnu ńsọ.
- Literal translation
- It is not all that the eyes see that the mouth utters.
- Meaning
- Wisdom is it; some things are better left unsaid
895
Gbogbo ohun tó ńdán kọ́ ni wúrà.
- Literal translation
- Not all that glitters is gold.
- Meaning
- Appearance can be deceptive
896
Gbogbo ojú kọ́ ló ńṣe ipin; gbogbo igi kọ́ ló ńhu olú.
- Literal translation
- Not all eyes are rheumy; not all (dead) trees sprout mushrooms.
- Meaning
- No hasty generalisations: you can't tar everyone (or everything) with the same brush; appearance can be deceptive
897
Gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ ló lésì, ṣùgbọ́n kì í ṣe gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ là ńf'èsì sí
- Literal translation
- There is always an appropriate response to every statement, but it's not every statement that one responds to.
- Meaning
- Be focused; don't be distracted: not all issues deserve your attention: don't major on minors
898
Gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ ló lésì, ṣùgbọ́n kì í ṣe gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ làá fèsì sí.
- Literal translation
- There is always an appropriate response to every statement, but it's not every statement that one responds to.
- Meaning
- Not all issues deserve our attention: be focused; ignore distractions.
899
Gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ ló lésì, ṣùgbọ́n kì í ṣe gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ làá nfèsì sí.
- Literal translation
- There is always an appropriate response to every statement, but it's not every statement that one responds to.
- Meaning
- Be focused; not all pursuits deserve our energy: don't major on minors
900
Gbólóhun kan lè ba ọ̀rọ̀ jẹ́, gbólóhùn kan náà lè tún ọ̀rọ̀ ṣe
- Literal translation
- One word can mess up a discussion, and one word can improve it.
- Meaning
- Tact is it