Yorùbá proverbs
901
Gbólóhùn kan lè ba ọ̀rọ̀ jẹ́, gbólóhùn kan náà lè tún ọ̀rọ̀ ṣe.
- Literal translation
- One sentence can mess up a discussion, and one sentence can make it better.
- Meaning
- Words are powerful; use them wisely.
902
Gbólóhùn kan lè ba ọ̀rọ̀ jẹ́; gbólóhùn kan náà lè tún ọ̀rọ̀ ṣe.
- Literal translation
- One sentence can mess up a discussion and one sentence can make it better.
- Meaning
- Words are powerful: they can build up and can pull down; use them wisely.
903
Gbólóhun kan lè bọ̀rọ̀ jẹ́, gbólóhùn kan náà lè tún ọ̀rọ̀ ṣe
- Literal translation
- One word can mess up a discussion, & one word can improve it.
- Meaning
- Tact is crucial
904
Gbólóhùn ọ̀rọ̀ kan a máa yí ìpinnu ogún ọdún padà
- Literal translation
- A single statement is well able to turn-around a decision of 20 years.
- Meaning
- Speak in wisdom
905
Gbólóhùn ọ̀rọ̀ kan a máa yí ìpinnu ogún ọdún padà.
- Literal translation
- A single sentence often well does turn around a decision of twenty years.
- Meaning
- Words are powerful; use them wisely
906
Gbòngbò kan ṣoṣo kò gbọdọ̀ ré ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n lẹ́ẹ̀pa lẹ́ẹ̀mejì
- Literal translation
- The same tree stump shouldn't trip a wise person twice.
- Meaning
- Once beaten, twice shy
907
Gbòngbò kan ṣoṣo kò gbọdọ̀ ré ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n lẹ́ẹ̀pa lẹ́ẹ̀mejì.
- Literal translation
- The same tree stump should not trip a learned person twice.
- Meaning
- Discretion is a better part of valour; a wise fish seldom gets caught twice with the same net
908
Gbòngbò kan ṣoṣo kò gbọdọ̀ ré ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n lẹ́pa lẹ́ẹ̀mejì
- Literal translation
- The same tree stump shouldn't trip a learned person twice
- Meaning
- Once beaten, twice shy
909
Gbòngbò kan ṣoṣo ò gbọdọ̀ ré ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n lẹ́pa lẹ́ẹ̀mejì
- Literal translation
- The same tree stump shouldn't trip a wise person twice.
- Meaning
- Learn from past mistakes
910
Híhó ọṣẹ la fi í bọ̀wọ̀ fún un; ọ̀ṣẹ tí ò hó ò ní'yì mọ́.
- Literal translation
- To lather is the beauty of soap; any soap that won't lather has no honour.
- Meaning
- Develop and hone your talent and uniqueness, and be a blessing with them; and your honour beckons.
911
Hùnrùnhunrun ni yóò pọ̀, ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ á dé Ọ̀yọ́.
- Literal translation
- Its grunting may be endless but the pig would get to Oyo town, eventually.
- Meaning
- Keep up hope
912
Hùnrùnhunrun ni yóò pọ̀, ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ wa á dé Ọ̀yọ́.
- Literal translation
- Its grunting may be endless, but our pig would get to Oyo town, eventually.
- Meaning
- Keep up hope
913
Ìbàjẹ́ ènìyàn ò lè dá'ṣẹ́ Olúwa dúró.
- Literal translation
- The wickedness of man cannot stop the work (or plan) of God.
- Meaning
- Keep moving, undeterred
914
Ìbàjẹ́ ènìyàn, kò lè dá iṣẹ́ Olúwa dúró.
- Literal translation
- Man's wicked acts cannot stop God's work (or purpose).
- Meaning
- Keep hope alive; man cannot be more than man, yet God remains God; keep moving forward, undeterred.
915
Ìbàjẹ́ ọjọ́ kan kì í tán lógún ọdún.
- Literal translation
- An indiscretion of one day does not get forgotten in twenty years.
- Meaning
- A little indiscretion can be costly; we must jealously guard our good reputation
916
Ìbàjẹ́ ọjọ́ kan kìí tán lógún ọdún
- Literal translation
- An indiscretion of one day does not get forgotten in twenty years.
- Meaning
- Maintain & guard a good reputation
917
Ìbàjẹ́ ọjọ́ kan kìí tán lógún ọdún.
- Literal translation
- An indiscretion of one day, is not forgotten in twenty years.
- Meaning
- A little indiscretion can be costly.
918
Ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ kọ́ l'onísẹ́, à fi ẹni tó bá fi orí tì í d'ópin.
- Literal translation
- To start anything is not as crucial as seeing it through to completion.
- Meaning
- 'Finishiative' is superior to initiative: don't start what you won't finish; finish whatever you start.
919
Ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ kọ́ l'oníṣẹ́, à fi ẹni tó bá fi orí tì í d'ópin.
- Literal translation
- A good worker is not necessarily the one who starts something, but the one who finishes it.
- Meaning
- To start any task is not as crucial as seeing it through to completion
920
Ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ ogun là ńmọ̀; ẹni kan kì í mọ ìparí í rẹ̀.
- Literal translation
- The beginning of war is what anyone knows; no one knows how it will end.
- Meaning
- Always seek peace; no one ever knows the full ramifications of a quarrel at the beginning