Yorùbá proverbs
941
Ibi tó bá gba ọmọ ológìnní, yẹ kó lè gba ọmọ eku.
- Literal translation
- Wherever can contain a kitten should be able to contain a mouse.
- Meaning
- Fairness is crucial
942
Ibi tó bá tọ́ sí, lèyàn ńtọ̀ sí
- Literal translation
- One ought to urinate in a proper place
- Meaning
- A play on the word 'tọ' to mean that things should be properly done
943
Ibi tó tọ́ lèyàn ńtọ̀ sí.
- Literal translation
- One ought to urinate in a proper place.
- Meaning
- Things should be done in order
944
Ibikíbi tí oyin bá wà lèèrà ńwáa rí
- Literal translation
- It is wherever honey is, that ants go search it out
- Meaning
- Dogged pursuit of desires
945
Ìbínú kì í pẹ́ sọ ilé olówó rẹ̀ dahoro.
- Literal translation
- Anger hardly takes long to render its bearer's home desolate.
- Meaning
- Uncontrolled temper can be self-destructive.
946
Ìbínú kì í pẹ́ sọ ilé olówó rẹ̀ di ahoro.
- Literal translation
- Anger hardly takes long to desolate the home of its bearer.
- Meaning
- Unbridled anger can be repulsive.
947
Ìbínú kìí pẹ́ sọ ilé olówó rẹ̀ dahoro.
- Literal translation
- Anger hardly takes long to render its bearer's home desolate.
- Meaning
- Uncontrolled anger is self-limitting
948
Ìbínú kò da nńkan, sùúrù ni baba ìwà.
- Literal translation
- Anger yields nothing; patience is the epitome of good character.
- Meaning
- Patience is superior to anger
949
Idà tó bá ba àkọ̀ jẹ́, yóò sun ìta.
- Literal translation
- A sword that destroyed its sheath will have to do without covering.
- Meaning
- Don't mess with your source
950
Idà tó bá ba àkọ̀ jẹ́, yóò sùn'ta
- Literal translation
- A sword that destroyed its sheath will have to do without covering
- Meaning
- Importance of one's base
951
Ìdẹra ò kan àgbà.
- Literal translation
- Comfort has nothing to do with age.
- Meaning
- Peace and comfort appeal to all.
952
Ìdí iṣẹ́ ẹni la ti ńmú'ni l'ọ́lẹ.
- Literal translation
- You will know a lazy person by the manner he (or she) performs his (or her) duties.
- Meaning
- Diligence is it; diligence or lack of it is far more transparent than it seems
953
Ìdọ̀bálẹ̀ kì í ṣè'wà; ohun t'ólúkálùkù máa jẹ ló ńwá.
- Literal translation
- Prostrating does not necessarily connote good manners; people are simply after what they can get.
- Meaning
- Excessive genuflection or servility, is often nothing, but an attempt at sycophancy; appearance can be deceptive.
954
Ìfẹ́ fọ́jú; obìnrin táa bá fẹ́ràn kì í ní àlébù
- Literal translation
- Love is blind; a woman one really loves seldom has faults.
- Meaning
- With love, other concerns pale
955
Ìfẹ́ fọ́jú; obìnrin táa bá fẹ́ràn kì í ní àlébù.
- Literal translation
- Love is blind; a woman one really loves seldom has blemishes.
- Meaning
- If it is wrong, love will not see it; where love exists, other concerns pale A kú ayẹyẹ ọjọ́ olólùfẹ́ ọdún 2020 o.
956
Ìfẹ́ fọ́jú; obìnrin táa bá fẹ́ràn kìí ní àlébù
- Literal translation
- Love is blind; a woman one loves seldom has faults.
- Meaning
- If there's a blemish, love won't see it
957
Ìfẹ́ fọ́jú; obìnrin tí a bá fẹ́ràn, kì í ní àléébù.
- Literal translation
- Love is blind; a woman one truly loves seldom has blemishes.
- Meaning
- With love, other concerns pale; if it's wrong, love won't see it. A kú ayẹyẹ ọjọ́ olólùfẹ́ o.
958
Ìfura loògùn àgbà; àgbà tó lóògùn tí kò ní ìfura, kò ní nǹkàn kan.
- Literal translation
- Perceptivity is the secret weapon of elders; an elder who has charms but is not perceptive has nothing.
- Meaning
- Matured minds are perceptive: they see what has not been shown and hear what has not been said.
959
Ìfura loògùn àgbà; agbọ́n ò fura, kò lóyin; ọ̀bọ ò fura, kò dèèyàn
- Literal translation
- Perceptivity is elders' secret weapon; not being perceptive, wasps are unable to make honey; not being perceptive, monkeys never evolve into humans
- Meaning
- Be perceptive; strive to see what is not ordinarily visible
960
Ìgba àkàṣù bàbà lábọ̀ ọjà, ni ìgba ẹ̀sun iṣu gbọọrọ lábọ̀ oko.
- Literal translation
- The receipt of a fat wrap (of corn meal) from the market commends the receipt of a long roasted yam from the farm.
- Meaning
- No free lunch; give to get and sow to reap.